😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $620 in Teresina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,040 in Teresina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,460 in Teresina.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 268% more expensive than in Teresina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Teresina is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$5.27R$26.76
198.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$26.66R$135
138.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$6.40R$32.48
63.28%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$1.80R$9.13
61.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$1.12R$5.70
104.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.67R$3.39
123.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$1.75R$8.90
103.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.73R$13.84
45.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.24R$6.28
-12.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$2.17R$11.02
-18.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.25R$6.34
36.00%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$3.58R$18.17
-9.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$8.27R$41.98
60.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$3.70R$18.79
108.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$7.12R$36.12
121.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$1.61R$8.18
41.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.29R$6.56
28.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.15R$5.86
75.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.50R$7.62
64.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.14R$5.81
57.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.11R$5.62
86.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.74R$3.78
166.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.62R$3.16
33.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.15R$10.91
204.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$9.40R$47.72
-40.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.26R$6.37
5.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.09R$10.59
44.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.70R$3.56
224.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$38.56R$196
20.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$1.11R$5.64
281.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.89R$4.52
-4.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$6.37R$32.34
195.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.10R$5.58
83.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$20.4KR$103.4K
71.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$27.6KR$140.0K
43.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$61.7R$313
139.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$13.39R$67.9
53.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$16.27R$82.6
142.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$19.10R$96.9
152.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$21.85R$111
-15.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$8.07R$40.93
12.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$269R$1,363
128.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$6,560R$33.3K
148.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$26.74R$136
279.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$20.37R$103
106.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$54.8R$278
68.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$41.73R$212
192.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$137R$695
1076.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$101R$513
1140.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$333R$1,689
822.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$240R$1,218
748.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,364R$6,923
468.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$756R$3,834
467.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$414R$2,101
286.82%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Teresina: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $137 in Teresina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 287% 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 $27.00 in Teresina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $191 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 in Teresina?
Lisbon and Teresina differ by about 268% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $620 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?
Average pay runs 287% 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 Teresina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $269 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 39% 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 $620 in Teresina versus $2,280 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 268% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.