😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $761 in Volta Redonda.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,180 in Volta Redonda.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,598 in Volta Redonda.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 190% more expensive than Volta Redonda, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Volta Redonda is 43% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$7.40R$37.45
115.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$26.60R$135
143.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$5.30R$26.84
98.30%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.11R$10.71
36.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.19R$6.03
88.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.85R$4.31
76.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$2.22R$11.22
57.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.82R$14.27
37.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.84R$4.24
35.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.46R$7.41
19.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.09R$5.52
61.47%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.22R$11.23
45.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$11.14R$56.4
21.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.40R$22.26
79.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$9.15R$46.32
73.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.71R$13.71
-14.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.89R$9.59
-10.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.64R$8.32
22.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.78R$9.02
38.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.39R$7.05
32.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.24R$6.27
61.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.95R$4.82
103.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.17R$0.85
364.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$2.53R$12.82
161.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$8.91R$45.10
-35.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.27R$6.41
7.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.28R$6.49
132.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.75R$3.80
216.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$38.59R$195
18.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.06R$5.37
304.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.75R$3.81
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$9.26R$46.88
97.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.10R$5.55
87.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$22.0KR$111.5K
55.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$28.1KR$142.3K
39.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$54.2R$274
173.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$9.84R$49.85
108.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$20.26R$103
95.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$18.13R$91.8
163.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$21.68R$110
-12.73%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$4.59R$23.23
100.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$182R$922
237.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$15.0KR$76.0K
6.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$42.11R$213
148.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$35.44R$179
18.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$45.24R$229
107.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$74.3R$376
60.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$245R$1,238
565.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$179R$906
601.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$592R$2,996
412.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$325R$1,647
520.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$828R$4,193
841.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$675R$3,419
532.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$297R$1,505
439.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.56
-67.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Volta Redonda: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $245 in Volta Redonda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 440% 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 Volta Redonda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $199 per month, with Volta Redonda 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 Volta Redonda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Volta Redonda?
Lisbon and Volta Redonda differ by about 190% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $761 including rent). Volta Redonda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Volta Redonda?
Lisbon pays 440% 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 Volta Redonda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $245 in Volta Redonda. 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 Volta Redonda?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $182 in Volta Redonda. 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 36% 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 $761 in Volta Redonda versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Volta Redonda but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Volta Redonda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Volta Redonda?
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 Volta Redonda safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Volta Redonda 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 Volta Redonda?
Expats usually find Volta Redonda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 190% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.