😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $720 in Rio do Sul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,146 in Rio do Sul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,572 in Rio do Sul.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 209% more expensive than Rio do Sul, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Rio do Sul is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$4.61R$22.99
250.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$21.40R$107
201.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$3.51R$17.51
195.73%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.23R$6.16
125.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.11R$5.54
102.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.52R$2.61
201.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.15R$10.72
62.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$3.27R$16.33
22.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.92R$4.57
17.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.43R$7.16
21.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.21R$6.02
43.80%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.47R$7.33
116.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$7.39R$36.87
81.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$3.57R$17.83
123.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$6.28R$31.34
156.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.46R$7.29
56.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$0.95R$4.74
81.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$0.71R$3.53
173.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.24R$6.20
104.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.03R$5.15
77.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.93R$4.65
119.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.59R$2.96
235.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.67R$3.36
26.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.19R$10.95
212.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$4.10R$20.46
40.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.17R$5.85
17.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.26R$11.29
28.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.88R$4.38
159.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$38.24R$191
22.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.16R$5.77
251.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.66R$3.29
24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$6.19R$30.90
195.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.07R$5.32
87.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$18.9KR$94.2K
86.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$26.3KR$131.1K
46.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$74.3R$371
95.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$9.69R$48.33
116.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$19.83R$99.0
101.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$22.40R$112
117.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$21.55R$108
-13.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$4.63R$23.08
95.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$267R$1,331
127.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,430R$32.1K
153.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$45.39R$227
130.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$44.93R$224
-8.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$71.6R$357
30.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$44.51R$222
166.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$321R$1,603
399.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$218R$1,088
466.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$580R$2,896
424.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$433R$2,161
374.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,669R$8,329
361.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,180R$5,887
261.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rio do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11
-65.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Rio do Sul: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $321 in Rio do Sul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $21.00 in Rio do Sul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $149 per month, with Rio do Sul 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 do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Rio do Sul?
Lisbon and Rio do Sul differ by about 209% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $720 including rent). Rio do Sul 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 Rio do Sul?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,080 in Rio do Sul 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 Rio do Sul?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $321 in Rio do Sul. 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 do Sul?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $267 in Rio do Sul. 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 81% 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 $720 in Rio do Sul versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rio do Sul but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rio do Sul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Rio do Sul?
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 do Sul safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Rio do Sul 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 do Sul?
Expats usually find Rio do Sul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.