Cost of Living Comparison Between Minas and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Minas and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,025 in Minas versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Minas versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,248 in Minas versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Minas costs roughly 54% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Minas is 23% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09UYUΒ 648
$15.91β¬13.81
1.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7UYUΒ 2,201
$64.8β¬56.2
-15.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.17UYUΒ 490
$10.51β¬9.12
15.79%
Cappuccino
$4.11UYUΒ 165
$2.87β¬2.49
43.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20UYUΒ 88.4
$2.24β¬1.95
-1.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75UYUΒ 70.5
$1.50β¬1.30
16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.28UYUΒ 172
$3.49β¬3.03
22.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62UYUΒ 146
$3.88β¬3.37
-6.70%
π Groceries & Markets
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25UYUΒ 50.1
$1.14β¬0.99
9.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.85UYUΒ 115
$1.75β¬1.52
62.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59UYUΒ 64.2
$1.76β¬1.52
-9.66%
Eggs
$4.81UYUΒ 193
$3.22β¬2.79
49.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.58UYUΒ 547
$13.49β¬11.71
0.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.97UYUΒ 442
$7.91β¬6.87
38.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.19UYUΒ 450
$15.87β¬13.77
-29.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07UYUΒ 124
$2.31β¬2.00
32.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37UYUΒ 95.6
$1.70β¬1.48
39.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57UYUΒ 63.3
$2.01β¬1.74
-21.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.66UYUΒ 148
$2.46β¬2.13
48.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09UYUΒ 84.1
$1.84β¬1.60
13.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90UYUΒ 76.4
$2.00β¬1.74
-5.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33UYUΒ 53.5
$1.93β¬1.67
-31.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72UYUΒ 69.3
$0.79β¬0.68
117.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.23UYUΒ 211
$6.61β¬5.73
-20.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.96UYUΒ 401
$5.72β¬4.97
74.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30UYUΒ 92.6
$1.37β¬1.18
67.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94UYUΒ 118
$2.97β¬2.58
-1.01%
π Getting Around
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.37β¬2.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56β¬39.53
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55UYUΒ 62.6
$4.29β¬3.72
-63.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.46UYUΒ 139
$0.82β¬0.71
321.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.36UYUΒ 498
$18.30β¬15.88
-32.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82UYUΒ 73.4
$2.06β¬1.79
-11.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KUYUΒ 1.4M
$34.3Kβ¬29.7K
1.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7KUYUΒ 1.5M
$39.3Kβ¬34.1K
-6.55%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169UYUΒ 6,820
$148β¬128
14.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.49UYUΒ 664
$20.52β¬17.80
-19.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.76UYUΒ 2,003
$39.61β¬34.37
25.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$47.85β¬41.51
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92β¬16.42
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.56UYUΒ 425
$9.18β¬7.97
15.03%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$487UYUΒ 19.6K
$614β¬533
-20.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,082UYUΒ 365.6K
$16.0Kβ¬13.9K
-43.41%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.8UYUΒ 3,734
$105β¬90.8
-11.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.58UYUΒ 1,915
$42.06β¬36.49
13.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116UYUΒ 4,668
$94.0β¬81.5
23.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121UYUΒ 4,876
$120β¬104
1.22%
π Accommodation & Living
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,628β¬1,412
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,255β¬1,089
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,030β¬2,629
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020β¬1,753
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800β¬6,767
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273β¬3,707
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603β¬1,391
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.68
3.81
49.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Minas: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
πDining out: $55.0 in Minas vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $323 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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
Minas vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Minas and Lisbon?
Minas and Lisbon differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($1,025 vs $2,210 including rent). Minas is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Minas compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,538 in Minas and $3,315 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Minas or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,025 per month in Minas versus $2,210 in Lisbon β a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,025 in Minas versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Minas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Minas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Minas and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Minas or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Minas and Lisbon 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: Minas or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Minas gentler on the wallet β expenses run 116% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.