😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,389 in Punta Cana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,986 in Punta Cana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,583 in Punta Cana.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 63% more expensive than Punta Cana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Punta Cana3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$8.43DOP 494
89.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$51.8DOP 3,037
22.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$7.21DOP 422
43.97%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.71DOP 159
2.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.02DOP 59.8
129.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.79DOP 46.09
98.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$2.54DOP 149
35.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$5.05DOP 296
-22.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.35DOP 78.9
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.45DOP 85.0
22.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.55DOP 90.6
10.32%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.19DOP 128
43.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$7.07DOP 414
93.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$6.15DOP 360
30.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$10.53DOP 617
47.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.11DOP 182
-26.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$0.92DOP 54.0
78.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.26DOP 132
-14.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$1.97DOP 115
27.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.00DOP 58.8
79.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.46DOP 85.5
37.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.74DOP 43.57
166.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.97DOP 56.6
-13.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$5.62DOP 329
20.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$17.07DOP 1,000
-66.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.71DOP 159
-48.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$3.19DOP 187
-5.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.82DOP 48.10
176.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$3.47DOP 203
23.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$2.11DOP 123
-59.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$5.88DOP 345
210.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.27DOP 74.4
56.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$26.2KDOP 1.5M
33.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$31.1KDOP 1.8M
27.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$75.1DOP 4,400
94.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$19.54DOP 1,145
4.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$35.19DOP 2,062
10.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$63.7DOP 3,734
-23.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$5.17DOP 303
84.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$265DOP 15.5K
129.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$7,330DOP 429.4K
125.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$16.13DOP 945
544.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$51.1DOP 2,994
-17.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$66.2DOP 3,878
39.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$118DOP 6,895
1.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$852DOP 49.9K
90.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$655DOP 38.4K
93.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,282DOP 75.1K
137.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$889DOP 52.1K
125.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$3,043DOP 178.3K
151.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$1,269DOP 74.3K
241.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
12.9
-70.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Punta Cana: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $852 in Punta Cana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $52.0 in Punta Cana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $241 per month, with Punta Cana cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Punta Cana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Punta Cana?
Lisbon and Punta Cana differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,389 including rent). Punta Cana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Punta Cana?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $2,083 in Punta Cana to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Punta Cana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $852 in Punta Cana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Punta Cana?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $1,389 in Punta Cana – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,389 in Punta Cana versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Punta Cana but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Punta Cana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Punta Cana?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Punta Cana safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Punta Cana are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Punta Cana?
Expats usually find Punta Cana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.