😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $740 in Rio Branco.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,150 in Rio Branco.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,561 in Rio Branco.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 203% more expensive than Rio Branco, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Rio Branco is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$5.49R$27.30
186.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$23.32R$116
170.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$7.89R$39.20
30.80%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$2.24R$11.15
25.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.23R$6.10
89.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.64R$3.19
135.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$1.82R$9.07
85.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$1.42R$7.07
175.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.38R$6.84
-21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$1.52R$7.53
15.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.18R$5.85
48.31%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$1.97R$9.81
57.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$8.16R$40.55
62.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$4.04R$20.06
94.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$6.45R$32.03
148.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.05R$10.19
16.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.30R$6.48
32.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.19R$5.91
65.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.46R$7.23
74.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.19R$5.93
50.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.06R$5.25
85.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$0.69R$3.42
184.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.66R$3.29
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$2.14R$10.64
218.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$7.90R$39.29
-25.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.21R$6.03
14.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$1.97R$9.79
48.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.66R$3.27
246.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$38.78R$193
20.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$1.11R$5.52
271.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$0.75R$3.70
8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$6.35R$31.58
198.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.12R$5.57
86.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$20.6KR$102.6K
70.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$27.7KR$137.6K
43.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$60.1R$299
148.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$13.27R$66.0
54.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$18.13R$90.1
115.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$17.85R$88.7
178.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$21.50R$107
-14.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$3.67R$18.25
150.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$142R$705
340.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$6,433R$32.0K
147.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$48.14R$239
112.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$42.38R$211
-3.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$76.8R$382
24.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$63.3R$314
91.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$315R$1,567
424.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$179R$887
590.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$499R$2,478
510.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$304R$1,509
578.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,313R$6,528
499.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$1,666R$8,278
158.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rio Branco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$260R$1,292
502.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Rio Branco: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $315 in Rio Branco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 502% 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: $63 in Lisbon vs $23 in Rio Branco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $178 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 Rio Branco?
Lisbon and Rio Branco differ by about 203% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $740 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?
Lisbon pays 502% 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 Rio Branco?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $315 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 $624 in Lisbon versus $142 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 52% 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 $740 in Rio Branco versus $2,243 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 203% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.