😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $682 in Teresopolis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,099 in Teresopolis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,517 in Teresopolis.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 236% more expensive than in Teresopolis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Teresopolis is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$3.51R$17.86
361.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$25.07R$128
152.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$6.20R$31.55
66.45%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.55R$7.88
82.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.34R$6.80
70.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.71R$3.64
122.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.81R$9.23
87.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.67R$13.57
50.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.17R$5.95
-6.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.75R$8.92
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.43R$7.28
23.08%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.04R$10.36
55.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$7.54R$38.39
74.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$3.54R$18.01
125.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$7.64R$38.89
103.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.20R$11.22
7.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.29R$6.55
32.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.46R$7.43
37.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.56R$7.94
55.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.23R$6.26
43.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.15R$5.85
76.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.64R$3.25
200.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.57R$2.88
49.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.02R$10.29
225.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$5.93R$30.18
-5.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.21R$6.16
9.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.13R$10.82
39.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.77R$3.92
196.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$23.80R$121
92.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.93R$4.73
354.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.69R$3.52
17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$2.11R$10.73
773.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.02R$5.20
103.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$20.2KR$103.0K
71.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$27.4KR$139.4K
43.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$26.52R$135
458.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$12.32R$62.7
66.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$17.27R$87.9
129.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$24.43R$124
96.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$18.30R$93.2
1.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$5.37R$27.36
71.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$274R$1,394
124.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$11.4KR$58.2K
43.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$22.01R$112
366.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$26.60R$135
56.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$75.9R$386
24.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$62.2R$316
96.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$315R$1,604
418.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$218R$1,110
465.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$343R$1,745
803.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$424R$2,158
379.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$1,156R$5,884
577.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Teresopolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$473R$2,409
239.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.33
-66.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Teresopolis: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $315 in Teresopolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 240% 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 $25.00 in Teresopolis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $176 per month, with Teresopolis 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 Teresopolis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Teresopolis?
Lisbon and Teresopolis differ by about 236% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $682 including rent). Teresopolis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Teresopolis?
Average pay runs 240% 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 Teresopolis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $315 in Teresopolis. 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 Teresopolis?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $274 in Teresopolis. 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 52% 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 $682 in Teresopolis versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Teresopolis but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Teresopolis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Teresopolis?
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 Teresopolis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Teresopolis 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 Teresopolis?
Expats usually find Teresopolis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.