Cost of Living Comparison Between Minas and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Minas and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,047 in Minas versus $2,243 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,633 in Minas versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,219 in Minas versus $4,387 in Lisbon.

Living in Minas costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Minas is 22% below, Lisbon is 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 UYU 633
$15.73 €13.42
1.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2 UYU 2,198
$63.2 €53.9
-12.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.14 UYU 483
$10.32 €8.80
17.64%
Cappuccino
$4.14 UYU 165
$2.81 €2.40
47.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 UYU 88.7
$2.33 €1.99
-4.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 UYU 70.6
$1.51 €1.29
17.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.48 UYU 178
$3.37 €2.87
32.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 UYU 150
$3.91 €3.34
-3.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 UYU 50.3
$1.08 €0.92
16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 UYU 115
$1.75 €1.49
65.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 UYU 65.3
$1.75 €1.50
-6.29%
Eggs
$4.81 UYU 191
$3.10 €2.64
55.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.41 UYU 534
$13.28 €11.33
0.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.92 UYU 435
$7.85 €6.70
39.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 UYU 443
$16.05 €13.69
-30.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 UYU 121
$2.39 €2.04
27.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 UYU 94.8
$1.72 €1.47
38.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 UYU 60.0
$1.97 €1.68
-23.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.72 UYU 148
$2.55 €2.17
45.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 UYU 83.8
$1.79 €1.53
17.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 UYU 75.3
$1.97 €1.68
-4.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 UYU 51.9
$1.96 €1.67
-33.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 UYU 69.4
$0.84 €0.71
107.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.29 UYU 210
$6.82 €5.82
-22.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 UYU 405
$5.85 €4.99
73.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 UYU 90.5
$1.38 €1.18
64.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 UYU 116
$2.92 €2.49
-0.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.29 €1.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.88 €39.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 UYU 61.3
$4.12 €3.51
-62.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.48 UYU 138
$0.81 €0.69
329.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.08 UYU 481
$18.94 €16.16
-36.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 UYU 74.8
$2.09 €1.78
-10.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K UYU 1.4M
$35.1K €30.0K
-0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K UYU 1.4M
$39.7K €33.9K
-9.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 UYU 6,778
$150 €128
13.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.70 UYU 664
$20.49 €17.48
-18.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.91 UYU 1,986
$39.15 €33.40
27.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$49.65 €42.35
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.47 €15.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.47 UYU 417
$9.20 €7.84
13.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 UYU 19.5K
$624 €533
-21.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,916 UYU 354.8K
$15.9K €13.6K
-43.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.4 UYU 3,716
$102 €87.2
-8.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.65 UYU 1,856
$40.88 €34.87
14.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 UYU 4,608
$95.7 €81.6
21.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 UYU 4,961
$121 €103
2.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,653 €1,410
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,233 €1,051
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,043 €2,596
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,059 €1,756
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,879 €6,720
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,303 €3,671
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Minas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,566 €1,336
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.68
3.81
49.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Minas: April 21, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Minas and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $55 in Minas vs $63 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $324 vs $270, 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 114% in total monthly costs ($1,047 vs $2,243 including rent). Minas is meaningfully more affordable – 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 $1,571 in Minas and $3,365 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 $1,047 per month in Minas versus $2,243 in Lisbon – a 114% 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 $1,047 in Minas versus $2,243 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 – 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 – expenses run 114% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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