😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,231 in Saltillo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,990 in Saltillo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,749 in Saltillo.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 86% more expensive than in Saltillo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Saltillo is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$8.10MX$141
99.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$44.68MX$778
41.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$6.37MX$111
62.01%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.10MX$54.0
-8.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.24MX$21.67
84.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.00MX$17.38
58.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.17MX$37.72
56.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$3.69MX$64.2
9.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.47MX$25.67
-25.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$3.25MX$56.6
-46.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.90MX$33.06
-7.37%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.53MX$43.97
25.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$10.45MX$182
26.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$8.12MX$141
-1.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$9.84MX$171
57.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.66MX$46.27
-10.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.19MX$20.72
43.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.61MX$27.98
24.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.88MX$32.72
29.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.07MX$36.06
-14.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.39MX$41.56
-15.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.22MX$21.20
57.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.04MX$18.17
-18.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.56MX$62.0
84.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$10.82MX$188
-48.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.23MX$38.89
-40.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.46MX$25.48
103.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.82MX$14.30
178.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$16.01MX$279
186.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.57MX$44.84
64.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.81MX$31.55
-55.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$10.60MX$185
73.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.30MX$22.61
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$14.7KMX$256.4K
135.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$24.5KMX$426.2K
59.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$46.41MX$808
219.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$24.21MX$422
-15.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$29.61MX$516
33.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$66.4MX$1,157
-27.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$13.24MX$231
40.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$6.34MX$110
45.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$240MX$4,184
156.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$2,536MX$44.2K
548.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$53.9MX$938
90.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$55.8MX$971
-25.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$83.7MX$1,457
13.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$121MX$2,115
0.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$551MX$9,598
196.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$484MX$8,422
154.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$910MX$15.8K
240.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$975MX$17.0K
108.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$580MX$10.1K
1250.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$923MX$16.1K
375.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Saltillo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$814MX$14.2K
97.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.5
-63.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Saltillo: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $551 in Saltillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 98% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $45.00 in Saltillo. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $267, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Saltillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Saltillo?
Lisbon and Saltillo differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,231 including rent). Saltillo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Saltillo?
Average pay runs 98% 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 Saltillo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $551 in Saltillo. 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 Saltillo?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $240 in Saltillo. 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 0% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,231 in Saltillo versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saltillo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Saltillo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Saltillo?
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 Saltillo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Saltillo 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 Saltillo?
Expats usually find Saltillo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.