Cost of Living Comparison Between Palmas and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Palmas and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $796 in Palmas versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,241 in Palmas versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,686 in Palmas versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Palmas costs roughly 66% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Palmas is 42% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82R$19.56
$17.30€14.89
-77.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.28R$98.8
$63.3€54.5
-69.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93R$40.62
$11.39€9.81
-30.38%
Cappuccino
$1.38R$7.07
$3.19€2.75
-56.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77R$9.06
$2.45€2.11
-27.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13R$5.79
$1.76€1.52
-35.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.33R$6.83
$3.59€3.09
-62.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92R$14.98
$3.39€2.92
-13.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.56
$1.24€1.06
-12.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47R$7.54
$1.98€1.71
-25.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83R$14.50
$1.52€1.31
86.18%
Eggs
$2.61R$13.37
$4.04€3.48
-35.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.67R$34.18
$13.54€11.65
-50.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12R$15.98
$8.39€7.22
-62.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.33R$32.46
$18.25€15.71
-65.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21R$11.32
$2.29€1.97
-3.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61R$8.26
$1.74€1.50
-7.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.11R$5.68
$1.86€1.60
-40.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18R$6.03
$2.63€2.26
-55.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.32
$1.92€1.65
-35.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09R$5.59
$2.09€1.80
-47.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80R$4.09
$1.44€1.24
-44.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81R$4.14
$0.84€0.72
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75R$14.11
$6.78€5.84
-59.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.83R$35.00
$5.71€4.92
19.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25R$6.39
$1.38€1.18
-9.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12R$10.85
$2.22€1.91
-4.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75R$3.84
$2.40€2.07
-68.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.00R$220
$46.78€40.27
-8.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R$5.62
$4.17€3.59
-73.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82R$4.18
$1.14€0.98
-28.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.65R$34.10
$17.68€15.22
-62.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21R$6.18
$2.32€2.00
-47.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KR$128.7K
$35.3K€30.4K
-28.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KR$164.9K
$41.4K€35.7K
-22.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109R$559
$170€147
-35.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.46R$58.7
$19.34€16.65
-40.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.12R$98.0
$33.64€28.96
-43.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.45R$120
$48.10€41.40
-51.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.20R$139
$19.90€17.13
36.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22R$31.87
$9.92€8.54
-37.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146R$750
$717€617
-79.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,185R$41.9K
$17.5K€15.0K
-53.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.29R$181
$105€90.2
-66.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6R$280
$46.95€40.41
16.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109R$560
$103€89.0
5.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.8R$358
$124€107
-43.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286R$1,463
$1,677€1,443
-82.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195R$999
$1,271€1,094
-84.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$620R$3,177
$2,985€2,569
-79.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$414R$2,122
$1,992€1,715
-79.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,843R$9,446
$7,826€6,737
-76.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,044R$5,351
$4,658€4,010
-77.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palmas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,583€1,362
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.12
3.79
193.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Palmas: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Palmas and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Palmas vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $283 per month, with Palmas 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
Palmas vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Palmas and in Lisbon?
Palmas and Lisbon differ by about 191% in total monthly costs ($796 vs $2,316 including rent). Palmas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Palmas compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,194 in Palmas and $3,474 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Palmas and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Palmas versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Palmas and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $146 in Palmas versus $717 in Lisbon. 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 61% 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 $796 in Palmas versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Palmas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Palmas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Palmas 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 Palmas or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Palmas 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: Palmas or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Palmas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.