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: $2,263 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: Lisbon 68% above, Punta Cana 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$8.43 DOP 494
89.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$51.8 DOP 3,037
22.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$7.21 DOP 422
43.97%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$2.71 DOP 159
2.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$1.02 DOP 59.8
129.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.79 DOP 46.09
98.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$2.54 DOP 149
35.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$5.05 DOP 296
-22.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.35 DOP 78.9
-20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.45 DOP 85.0
22.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.55 DOP 90.6
10.32%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$2.19 DOP 128
43.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$7.07 DOP 414
93.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$6.15 DOP 360
30.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$10.53 DOP 617
47.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$3.11 DOP 182
-26.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$0.92 DOP 54.0
78.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$2.26 DOP 132
-14.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$1.97 DOP 115
27.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.00 DOP 58.8
79.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.46 DOP 85.5
37.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.74 DOP 43.57
166.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.97 DOP 56.6
-13.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$5.62 DOP 329
20.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$17.07 DOP 1,000
-66.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$2.71 DOP 159
-48.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$3.19 DOP 187
-5.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.82 DOP 48.10
176.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$3.47 DOP 203
23.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.11 DOP 123
-59.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$5.88 DOP 345
210.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.27 DOP 74.4
56.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$26.2K DOP 1.5M
33.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$31.1K DOP 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
$75.1 DOP 4,400
94.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$19.54 DOP 1,145
4.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$35.19 DOP 2,062
10.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$63.7 DOP 3,734
-23.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$5.17 DOP 303
84.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$265 DOP 15.5K
129.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$7,330 DOP 429.4K
125.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$16.13 DOP 945
544.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$51.1 DOP 2,994
-17.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$66.2 DOP 3,878
39.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$118 DOP 6,895
1.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Punta Cana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$852 DOP 49.9K
90.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$655 DOP 38.4K
93.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$1,282 DOP 75.1K
137.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$889 DOP 52.1K
125.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$3,043 DOP 178.3K
151.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$1,269 DOP 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.

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