😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $809 in Rio Branco.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,275 in Rio Branco.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,742 in Rio Branco.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 180% more expensive than in Rio Branco, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Rio Branco is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$6.71R$34.41
161.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$25.47R$131
153.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$7.12R$36.52
63.62%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$2.85R$14.59
14.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$1.34R$6.85
85.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.74R$3.79
125.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$1.93R$9.89
79.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$2.92R$14.97
22.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.05R$5.38
12.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.61R$8.24
21.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.21R$6.20
28.93%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.10R$10.76
90.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$8.95R$45.90
48.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$4.07R$20.84
106.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$8.03R$41.16
127.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.23R$11.45
4.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.30R$6.67
33.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.18R$6.07
63.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.57R$8.07
68.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.16R$5.94
63.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.03R$5.29
104.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.82R$4.23
75.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.78R$4.01
2.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$2.39R$12.25
193.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$7.83R$40.15
-24.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.25R$6.42
8.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.03R$10.42
5.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.67R$3.43
255.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
$43.03R$221
7.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$1.28R$6.56
227.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.83R$4.24
32.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$7.82R$40.08
120.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.33R$6.82
69.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$23.4KR$119.8K
47.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$32.2KR$165.0K
29.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$72.3R$371
136.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$12.12R$62.1
56.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$20.88R$107
64.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$21.39R$110
132.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
$26.73R$137
-27.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$3.36R$17.23
200.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$285R$1,459
145.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$7,359R$37.7K
141.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$53.9R$276
94.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
$48.13R$247
-0.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$90.1R$462
13.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$71.0R$364
80.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$337R$1,730
392.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$188R$962
554.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$536R$2,749
443.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$333R$1,708
507.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$1,593R$8,166
410.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
$1,568R$8,039
195.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$255R$1,307
534.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
11.12
-66.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Rio Branco: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $337 in Rio Branco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 535% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Rio Branco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $187 per month, with Rio Branco 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 Rio Branco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Rio Branco?
Lisbon and Rio Branco differ by about 180% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $809 including rent). Rio Branco is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Rio Branco?
Average pay runs 535% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Rio Branco?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $337 in Rio Branco. 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 Rio Branco?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $285 in Rio Branco. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $809 in Rio Branco versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rio Branco but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rio Branco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Rio Branco?
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 Rio Branco safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Rio Branco 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 Rio Branco?
Expats usually find Rio Branco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.