😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $740 in Volta Redonda.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,196 in Volta Redonda.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,653 in Volta Redonda.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 210% more expensive than in Volta Redonda, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Volta Redonda is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$7.08R$36.07
128.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$26.58R$135
138.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$5.49R$27.93
87.98%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.09R$10.64
35.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.18R$6.03
94.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.91R$4.65
73.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.19R$11.17
55.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.87R$14.60
40.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$0.82R$4.19
32.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.47R$7.46
19.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.11R$5.64
58.56%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.18R$11.08
45.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$11.13R$56.7
18.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$4.33R$22.03
84.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$8.96R$45.61
73.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.71R$13.78
-12.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.90R$9.67
-10.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.69R$8.60
18.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.83R$9.30
32.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.44R$7.31
22.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.31R$6.65
54.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.00R$5.10
92.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.20R$1.02
325.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.48R$12.64
165.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$8.46R$43.09
-34.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.27R$6.45
4.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.24R$6.30
139.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.73R$3.73
212.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$38.23R$195
19.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.07R$5.44
295.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.76R$3.87
6.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$9.42R$47.96
95.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.10R$5.60
89.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$21.8KR$111.2K
58.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$28.3KR$143.8K
38.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$54.2R$276
173.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$9.96R$50.7
105.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$20.01R$102
97.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$17.87R$91.0
168.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$21.96R$112
-15.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$4.38R$22.28
110.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$178R$906
246.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$15.4KR$78.2K
7.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$41.81R$213
145.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$35.79R$182
16.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$44.98R$229
110.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$74.3R$378
64.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$244R$1,244
568.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$180R$917
584.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$593R$3,019
422.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$321R$1,632
533.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$819R$4,171
855.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$672R$3,420
553.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Volta Redonda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$288R$1,466
458.35%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Volta Redonda: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $244 in Volta Redonda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 458% 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 Volta Redonda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $198 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 in Volta Redonda?
Lisbon and Volta Redonda differ by about 210% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $740 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?
Average pay runs 458% 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 Volta Redonda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $244 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $178 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 35% 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 $740 in Volta Redonda versus $2,291 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 210% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.