Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Punta Cana Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Punta Cana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,363 in Punta Cana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,955 in Punta Cana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,546 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: Lisbon 66% above, Punta Cana 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$8.64 DOP 511
87.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$51.7 DOP 3,055
24.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$7.16 DOP 423
44.97%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$2.61 DOP 155
6.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$0.98 DOP 58.0
129.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.83 DOP 48.77
89.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$2.59 DOP 153
34.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$5.07 DOP 300
-21.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.34 DOP 78.9
-19.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.45 DOP 85.9
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.50 DOP 88.5
16.00%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$2.21 DOP 131
43.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$7.10 DOP 420
89.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$6.18 DOP 365
29.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$10.53 DOP 622
52.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$3.12 DOP 185
-26.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$0.92 DOP 54.3
86.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.24 DOP 132
-13.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$1.93 DOP 114
31.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.04 DOP 61.5
75.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.46 DOP 86.0
39.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$0.74 DOP 43.84
167.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.96 DOP 56.8
-11.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$5.81 DOP 344
17.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$11.68 DOP 690
-50.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.68 DOP 158
-48.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$3.27 DOP 193
-11.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$0.88 DOP 52.3
159.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$3.48 DOP 206
17.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.10 DOP 124
-60.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$5.99 DOP 354
205.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.28 DOP 75.7
57.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$26.5K DOP 1.6M
33.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$31.4K DOP 1.9M
22.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$75.6 DOP 4,464
92.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$19.81 DOP 1,171
5.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$36.04 DOP 2,130
11.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$63.4 DOP 3,745
-23.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$5.04 DOP 298
79.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$271 DOP 16.0K
124.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$7,300 DOP 431.4K
123.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$15.95 DOP 942
556.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$52.4 DOP 3,098
-21.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$66.3 DOP 3,918
41.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$116 DOP 6,866
2.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$853 DOP 50.4K
87.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$659 DOP 38.9K
87.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$1,289 DOP 76.2K
136.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$907 DOP 53.6K
126.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$3,034 DOP 179.3K
154.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$1,293 DOP 76.4K
229.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
-
-
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Punta Cana: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $853 in Punta Cana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $52.0 in Punta Cana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $230 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 ($2,227 vs $1,363 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 $3,341 in Lisbon and $2,044 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $853 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 18% 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 $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $1,363 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 $1,363 in Punta Cana versus $2,227 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.

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