😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $625 in Teresina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,038 in Teresina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,451 in Teresina.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 257% more expensive than Teresina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Teresina is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$5.44R$27.15
197.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$27.04R$135
138.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$6.12R$30.53
69.61%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.81R$9.02
53.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.08R$5.39
108.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.67R$3.33
134.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.81R$9.04
92.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.71R$13.55
47.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.20R$6.01
-10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$2.18R$10.88
-20.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.24R$6.19
40.32%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$3.54R$17.66
-10.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.14R$40.60
64.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$3.54R$17.67
125.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.17R$35.79
124.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.59R$7.92
43.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.25R$6.21
37.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.15R$5.75
68.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.52R$7.56
67.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.14R$5.69
60.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.11R$5.53
83.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.69R$3.46
186.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.62R$3.11
37.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.15R$10.75
218.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$7.84R$39.13
-26.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.20R$6.01
14.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.09R$10.42
38.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.69R$3.42
230.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$39.25R$196
19.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.11R$5.54
267.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.93R$4.66
-11.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$6.41R$32.00
185.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.10R$5.50
82.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$20.9KR$104.3K
68.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$27.4KR$136.8K
40.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$60.5R$302
140.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$13.48R$67.3
55.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$16.11R$80.4
148.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$18.56R$92.6
162.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$21.91R$109
-14.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$8.03R$40.09
12.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$268R$1,338
126.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,486R$32.4K
151.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$26.70R$133
291.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$20.84R$104
96.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$54.1R$270
72.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$41.74R$208
184.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$137R$681
1074.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$98.8R$493
1150.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$339R$1,693
798.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$245R$1,221
740.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,359R$6,782
467.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$769R$3,838
454.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$432R$2,156
266.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Teresina: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $137 in Teresina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 267% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in Teresina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $186 per month, with Teresina 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 Teresina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Teresina?
Lisbon and Teresina differ by about 257% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $625 including rent). Teresina is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Teresina?
Lisbon pays 267% more on average, 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 Teresina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $137 in Teresina. 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 Teresina?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $268 in Teresina. 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 46% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $625 in Teresina versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Teresina but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Teresina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Teresina?
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 Teresina safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Teresina 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 Teresina?
Expats usually find Teresina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 257% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.