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