Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Teresina Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Teresina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $619 in Teresina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,034 in Teresina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,449 in Teresina.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 266% more expensive than Teresina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Teresina is 54% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$5.31 R$26.86
200.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$26.74 R$135
136.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$6.17 R$31.24
68.23%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$1.80 R$9.13
55.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$1.12 R$5.65
108.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.62 R$3.13
153.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$1.76 R$8.90
94.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$2.65 R$13.42
47.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.19 R$6.02
-9.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.16 R$10.91
-18.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.19 R$6.02
43.70%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$3.51 R$17.79
-10.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$8.45 R$42.76
61.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$3.56 R$18.01
125.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$7.19 R$36.42
115.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$1.58 R$8.01
44.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.26 R$6.40
30.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$1.15 R$5.81
68.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$1.44 R$7.30
74.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.14 R$5.75
57.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.05 R$5.32
91.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.73 R$3.70
169.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.61 R$3.11
37.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$2.11 R$10.70
221.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$9.36 R$47.39
-39.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.26 R$6.40
10.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$1.98 R$10.01
52.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.71 R$3.58
219.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$38.15 R$193
19.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$1.10 R$5.57
290.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.96 R$4.84
-11.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$6.33 R$32.04
188.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.06 R$5.34
87.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$20.4K R$103.1K
71.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$28.1K R$142.1K
40.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$60.4 R$306
142.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$13.59 R$68.8
50.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$16.15 R$81.8
141.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$18.53 R$93.8
164.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$21.92 R$111
-14.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$8.34 R$42.21
14.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$274 R$1,386
122.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$6,522 R$33.0K
153.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$26.89 R$136
286.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$20.52 R$104
105.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$53.5 R$271
72.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$42.50 R$215
182.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$135 R$685
1099.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$101 R$509
1160.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$329 R$1,666
826.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$248 R$1,253
711.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$1,345 R$6,810
469.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$764 R$3,867
466.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Teresina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$411 R$2,080
285.83%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Teresina: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $135 in Teresina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 286% 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 $269 vs $189 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 266% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $619 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 286% 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $135 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $274 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 42% 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 $619 in Teresina versus $2,263 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 266% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities