Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Queretaro Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Queretaro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,276 in Queretaro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,010 in Queretaro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,744 in Queretaro.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 73% more expensive than Queretaro, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Queretaro is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$9.85 MX$171
61.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$46.14 MX$800
40.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$8.05 MX$140
30.56%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.60 MX$62.4
-20.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.31 MX$22.63
70.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.95 MX$16.54
57.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$2.33 MX$40.33
49.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$4.30 MX$74.6
-9.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.54 MX$26.77
-25.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.68 MX$46.37
-34.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.95 MX$33.80
-9.74%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.37 MX$41.08
35.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$8.07 MX$140
67.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$9.79 MX$170
-19.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$12.86 MX$223
23.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.60 MX$62.3
-35.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.46 MX$25.35
16.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.90 MX$32.93
5.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.78 MX$30.92
38.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.78 MX$30.90
3.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.88 MX$32.57
6.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.25 MX$21.64
54.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.14 MX$19.79
-30.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$4.24 MX$73.5
55.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$17.05 MX$296
-66.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.99 MX$34.52
-31.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$3.31 MX$57.3
-10.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.60 MX$10.33
295.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$23.90 MX$414
90.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$3.13 MX$54.3
37.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.24 MX$21.40
-33.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$9.39 MX$163
94.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.31 MX$22.71
57.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$20.0K MX$345.8K
71.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$20.6K MX$357.1K
90.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$63.4 MX$1,099
133.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$24.19 MX$419
-15.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$28.06 MX$486
41.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$49.09 MX$851
-2.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$26.23 MX$455
-27.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$6.07 MX$105
51.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$319 MX$5,536
92.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$4,824 MX$83.6K
232.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$51.4 MX$891
103.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$42.09 MX$729
-0.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$99.6 MX$1,726
-5.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$95.8 MX$1,661
24.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$633 MX$11.0K
157.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$497 MX$8,615
152.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$1,190 MX$20.6K
154.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$792 MX$13.7K
155.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$2,333 MX$40.4K
234.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$1,347 MX$23.3K
217.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Queretaro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$924 MX$16.0K
73.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.55
-67.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Queretaro: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $633 in Queretaro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $46.00 in Queretaro. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $293, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Queretaro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Queretaro?
Lisbon and Queretaro differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,276 including rent). Queretaro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Queretaro?
Lisbon pays 74% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Queretaro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $633 in Queretaro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Queretaro?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $319 in Queretaro. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,276 in Queretaro versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Queretaro but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Queretaro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Queretaro?
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 Queretaro safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Queretaro 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 Queretaro?
Expats usually find Queretaro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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