Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Quetzaltenango Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Quetzaltenango

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,104 in Quetzaltenango.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,441 in Quetzaltenango.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $1,779 in Quetzaltenango.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 101% more expensive than in Quetzaltenango, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Quetzaltenango is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 €13.77
$3.95 Q 30.10
299.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5 €54.5
$34.18 Q 260
82.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.19
$5.86 Q 44.65
79.86%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.41
$2.47 Q 18.85
12.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.48 Q 3.67
375.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.35
$0.48 Q 3.62
222.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 €3.09
$1.34 Q 10.18
164.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 €3.47
$2.04 Q 15.54
95.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.77 Q 13.47
-38.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.54
$2.63 Q 20.05
-32.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.54
$2.03 Q 15.44
-12.81%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.72
$2.19 Q 16.65
42.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 €11.64
$7.78 Q 59.3
71.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.98
$6.47 Q 49.30
23.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 €13.89
$9.26 Q 70.5
71.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$2.41 Q 18.36
-5.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.43
$1.53 Q 11.69
7.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$3.09 Q 23.52
-35.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.14
$0.98 Q 7.47
150.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.54
$1.70 Q 12.92
4.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.72
$1.96 Q 14.96
0.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$0.71 Q 5.39
177.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.70
$1.17 Q 8.95
-31.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 €5.70
$3.34 Q 25.44
95.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €5.01
$8.39 Q 63.9
-31.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.15
$1.65 Q 12.57
-20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.60
$2.48 Q 18.89
20.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.04
$0.27 Q 2.08
766.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €40.01
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.71
$3.61 Q 27.48
18.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.74
$0.59 Q 4.52
42.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.86 €16.45
$6.40 Q 48.75
194.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.81
$0.95 Q 7.22
117.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.8K
$16.1K Q 122.5K
119.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.7K
$22.3K Q 170.3K
72.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 €132
$81.2 Q 619
86.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.24
$12.97 Q 98.8
61.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 €34.50
$47.89 Q 365
-17.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.39 €42.22
$33.08 Q 252
46.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 €16.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.89
$7.22 Q 55.0
25.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €532
$248 Q 1,889
146.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$5,741 Q 43.7K
183.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €88.3
$50.4 Q 384
100.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58 €35.41
$52.6 Q 400
-22.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 €81.2
$112 Q 850
-16.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €104
$122 Q 929
-2.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 €1,398
$217 Q 1,657
636.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 €1,081
$417 Q 3,179
196.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 €2,634
$379 Q 2,885
697.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 €1,798
$254 Q 1,933
712.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,981 €6,963
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,533 €3,955
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,628 €1,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
7.69
-50.46%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Quetzaltenango: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $217 in Quetzaltenango. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Quetzaltenango for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $239 per month, with Quetzaltenango 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 Quetzaltenango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Quetzaltenango?
Lisbon and Quetzaltenango differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,104 including rent). Quetzaltenango 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 Quetzaltenango?
You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $1,656 in Quetzaltenango 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 in Quetzaltenango?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $217 in Quetzaltenango. 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 Quetzaltenango?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $1,104 in Quetzaltenango – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,104 in Quetzaltenango versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Quetzaltenango but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Quetzaltenango the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Quetzaltenango?
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 Quetzaltenango safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Quetzaltenango 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 Quetzaltenango?
Expats usually find Quetzaltenango gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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