Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Rosarito

For one person, living is cheaper in Rosarito: $1,177 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $12,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Rosarito
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,177
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Rosarito

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Rosarito actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $1,177 in Rosarito.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Rosarito $1,177

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $1,869 in Rosarito.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Rosarito $1,869

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $2,561 in Rosarito.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Rosarito $2,561

Living in Lisbon is roughly 87% more expensive than in Rosarito, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Rosarito is 13% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$12.45 MX$230
36.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$33.84 MX$625
84.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$9.66 MX$178
14.08%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$4.32 MX$79.9
-27.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.43 MX$26.48
58.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$1.24 MX$22.96
40.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$3.25 MX$60.0
5.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$6.69 MX$124
-44.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.83 MX$33.73
-36.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.94 MX$54.3
-36.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.72 MX$31.87
-10.47%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$3.15 MX$58.3
28.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$8.58 MX$159
50.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$7.28 MX$135
8.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$11.74 MX$217
50.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.80 MX$51.7
-19.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.60 MX$29.59
9.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.88 MX$34.67
0.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$1.65 MX$30.43
55.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.57 MX$28.92
17.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.83 MX$33.86
7.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.53 MX$28.25
-5.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$1.08 MX$19.89
-28.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$4.36 MX$80.6
53.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$8.26 MX$153
-31.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.25 MX$41.65
-39.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$4.01 MX$74.2
-47.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$0.65 MX$11.96
256.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$2.83 MX$52.3
39.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$2.22 MX$41.04
-52.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$10.87 MX$201
57.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.30 MX$23.94
68.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$21.2K MX$392.4K
59.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$24.0K MX$443.6K
59.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$46.78 MX$864
250.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$34.02 MX$629
-45.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$30.01 MX$555
9.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$34.20 MX$632
34.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$20.14 MX$372
-7.25%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$6.61 MX$122
47.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$202 MX$3,739
238.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$4,641 MX$85.8K
279.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$54.2 MX$1,002
91.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$45.29 MX$837
2.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$102 MX$1,884
-2.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$69.9 MX$1,292
78.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$618 MX$11.4K
157.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$393 MX$7,256
197.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$1,051 MX$19.4K
171.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$767 MX$14.2K
160.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$1,921 MX$35.5K
305.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$1,150 MX$21.2K
284.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
12.07
-68.10%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Rosarito: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Rosarito
$393 66.4% $776
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Rosarito
$267 2.2% $6
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Rosarito
$221 10.8% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Rosarito
$111 48.5% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Rosarito
$122 27.5% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Rosarito
$47 27.5% $18
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Rosarito
$17 * 73.7% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $618 in Rosarito. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Rosarito for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $267 per month, with Rosarito cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇲🇽 Rosarito
🕒 Local time
18:36 6:36 PM
10:36 10:36 AM
8 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
100,660
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Rosarito 9,160 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Rosarito

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rosarito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Rosarito?
Lisbon and Rosarito differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $1,177 including rent). Rosarito 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 Rosarito?
You'd need roughly $3,302 in Lisbon and $1,766 in Rosarito 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 Rosarito?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $618 in Rosarito. 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 2% 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 Rosarito?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $1,177 in Rosarito – a 87% 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 $1,177 in Rosarito versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rosarito but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Rosarito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Rosarito?
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 Rosarito safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Rosarito 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 Rosarito?
Expats usually find Rosarito gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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