😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,309 in Lisbon versus $1,156 in Quetzaltenango.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,333 in Lisbon versus $1,448 in Quetzaltenango.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,356 in Lisbon versus $1,741 in Quetzaltenango.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 100% more expensive than in Quetzaltenango, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Quetzaltenango is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.48€15.37
$6.91Q 52.8
152.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€55.8
$49.68Q 379
27.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.24
$7.83Q 59.8
48.79%
Cappuccino
$3.21€2.83
$3.42Q 26.12
-6.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.09
$1.16Q 8.84
104.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.51
$0.89Q 6.78
93.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.06
$3.32Q 25.37
5.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42€3.01
$4.69Q 35.79
-27.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.01
$2.04Q 15.55
-43.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89€1.66
$2.67Q 20.39
-29.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49€1.31
$2.04Q 15.55
-26.96%
Eggs
$4.15€3.65
$2.44Q 18.65
70.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.38€11.76
$6.43Q 49.08
108.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.00€7.03
$8.00Q 61.1
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.00€15.83
$13.05Q 99.6
37.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26€1.99
$2.85Q 21.74
-20.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.52
$1.72Q 13.11
0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$2.87Q 21.88
-35.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62€2.30
$1.59Q 12.12
64.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91€1.68
$1.55Q 11.81
23.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99€1.75
$2.08Q 15.90
-4.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43€1.26
$0.74Q 5.65
93.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.70
$1.16Q 8.85
-31.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.98€6.14
$3.33Q 25.44
109.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€5.03
$8.37Q 63.9
-31.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.19
$1.78Q 13.60
-24.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.95
$2.70Q 20.58
-17.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.30€2.02
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€40.05
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.09€3.60
$5.17Q 39.49
-20.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13€0.99
$1.75Q 13.33
-35.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.48€15.36
$10.39Q 79.4
68.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.92
$1.28Q 9.79
71.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K€30.7K
$28.0KQ 214.2K
24.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K€36.0K
$25.1KQ 191.9K
62.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167€147
$76.7Q 586
117.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.24€16.91
$13.16Q 100
46.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.60€29.53
$44.92Q 343
-25.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.71€42.81
$32.21Q 246
51.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.78€17.39
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.56€8.40
$6.33Q 48.32
51.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693€609
$341Q 2,602
103.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K€15.1K
$6,719Q 51.3K
154.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€92.3
$46.69Q 357
124.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.21€41.50
$46.75Q 357
0.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€88.3
$110Q 840
-8.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€110
$112Q 857
11.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644€1,445
$392Q 2,992
319.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218€1,071
$391Q 2,985
211.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,909€2,557
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,010€1,767
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,753€6,815
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,492€3,949
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Quetzaltenango
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,391
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
11.62
-67.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 19, 2026
Last update for Quetzaltenango: September 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,644 in Lisbon and $392 in Quetzaltenango. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $50.0 in Quetzaltenango for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $264 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 100% in total monthly costs ($2,309 vs $1,156 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 $3,464 in Lisbon and $1,733 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: $1,644 in Lisbon versus $392 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 5% 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 $2,309 per month in Lisbon versus $1,156 in Quetzaltenango – a 100% 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 $1,156 in Quetzaltenango versus $2,309 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 100% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.