😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,130 in Rosarito.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,766 in Rosarito.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,402 in Rosarito.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 96% more expensive than Rosarito, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Rosarito is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.81
$11.92MX$208
33.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
$31.13MX$544
108.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.12
$7.72MX$135
36.14%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$3.87MX$67.5
-25.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$1.10MX$19.21
103.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.91MX$15.97
64.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$2.87MX$50.1
21.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$4.96MX$86.6
-21.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.64MX$28.66
-30.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$2.49MX$43.44
-29.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$1.75MX$30.53
0.57%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$3.23MX$56.4
-0.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.71
$7.45MX$130
81.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.87
$5.80MX$101
36.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$10.38MX$181
52.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$2.59MX$45.28
-10.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.50MX$26.27
13.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.91MX$33.42
5.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$1.64MX$28.58
50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.65MX$28.78
11.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$1.86MX$32.45
7.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
$1.09MX$19.08
77.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.01MX$17.66
-21.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$4.02MX$70.2
64.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.97
$8.60MX$150
-33.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.94MX$33.84
-29.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$3.22MX$56.3
-7.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$0.60MX$10.48
295.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.53
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$2.73MX$47.69
57.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$1.59MX$27.74
-48.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.88
$3.09MX$53.9
492.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$1.25MX$21.75
64.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$23.6KMX$412.0K
45.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$20.9KMX$365.2K
87.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$57.7MX$1,008
156.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
$27.77MX$485
-26.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.37
$30.84MX$539
28.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.51
$35.36MX$618
35.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.42
$15.99MX$279
18.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.97
$4.55MX$79.5
101.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€533
$203MX$3,540
202.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$2,719MX$47.5K
490.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
$43.57MX$761
140.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.49
$34.90MX$609
20.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$88.1MX$1,539
6.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$69.3MX$1,210
72.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$504MX$8,806
222.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$393MX$6,866
219.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,629
$946MX$16.5K
220.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,753
$771MX$13.5K
161.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,767
$1,939MX$33.9K
302.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,707
$1,291MX$22.6K
230.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Rosarito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,391
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.8
-67.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Rosarito: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $504 in Rosarito. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $31.00 in Rosarito for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $240 per month, with Rosarito 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 Rosarito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Rosarito?
Lisbon and Rosarito differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,130 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 $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,694 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 Rosarito?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $504 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 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 Rosarito?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,130 in Rosarito – a 96% 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 $1,130 in Rosarito versus $2,210 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 96% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.