Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sayulita Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sayulita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,120 in Sayulita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,762 in Sayulita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $2,404 in Sayulita.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 98% more expensive than Sayulita, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Sayulita is 16% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 €13.59
$10.76 MX$185
46.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5 €53.8
$38.34 MX$660
62.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.07
$7.74 MX$133
36.18%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.38
$3.20 MX$55.1
-13.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.97
$1.28 MX$22.06
78.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.33
$0.98 MX$16.79
58.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 €3.05
$2.25 MX$38.69
57.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 €3.43
$3.88 MX$66.8
2.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.45 MX$24.95
-25.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.60 MX$44.79
-31.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.62 MX$27.89
9.26%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.69
$2.40 MX$41.38
30.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 €11.49
$7.83 MX$135
70.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.88
$7.73 MX$133
3.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 €13.70
$10.67 MX$184
49.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.59 MX$44.60
-11.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.42
$1.38 MX$23.80
18.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.70
$1.72 MX$29.63
15.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$1.64 MX$28.15
49.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.93 MX$33.23
-8.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.94 MX$33.36
1.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$1.21 MX$20.88
62.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$1.03 MX$17.65
-22.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 €5.63
$4.22 MX$72.6
54.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €4.95
$10.88 MX$187
-47.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.13
$1.53 MX$26.41
-13.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.57
$2.84 MX$48.93
5.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.01
$0.64 MX$11.03
265.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €39.48
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.66
$2.56 MX$44.01
66.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.59 MX$27.27
-47.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.86 €16.24
$8.41 MX$145
124.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.78
$1.30 MX$22.42
59.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.3K
$21.3K MX$365.7K
65.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.2K
$22.2K MX$382.4K
73.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 €130
$56.6 MX$973
167.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.00
$22.10 MX$380
-5.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 €34.05
$28.46 MX$490
38.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.39 €41.67
$36.46 MX$627
32.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 €16.02
$16.09 MX$277
15.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.79
$4.76 MX$81.8
89.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €525
$204 MX$3,509
199.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$3,558 MX$61.2K
357.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €87.2
$52.3 MX$901
93.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58 €34.94
$39.26 MX$676
3.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 €80.1
$89.9 MX$1,547
3.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$79.7 MX$1,371
48.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 €1,380
$505 MX$8,681
217.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 €1,067
$393 MX$6,754
215.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 €2,599
$928 MX$16.0K
225.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 €1,775
$760 MX$13.1K
171.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,981 €6,872
$1,763 MX$30.3K
352.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,533 €3,903
$1,165 MX$20.0K
289.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sayulita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,628 €1,402
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.48
-66.81%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Sayulita: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $505 in Sayulita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $38.00 in Sayulita for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $249 per month, with Sayulita 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 Sayulita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sayulita?
Lisbon and Sayulita differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,120 including rent). Sayulita 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 Sayulita?
You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $1,680 in Sayulita 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 Sayulita?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $505 in Sayulita. 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 8% 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 Sayulita?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $1,120 in Sayulita – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,120 in Sayulita versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sayulita but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sayulita the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sayulita?
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 Sayulita safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sayulita 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 Sayulita?
Expats usually find Sayulita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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