🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $836 in Puerto Plata versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,299 in Puerto Plata versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,761 in Puerto Plata versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Puerto Plata costs roughly 64% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Puerto Plata is 39% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.10DOP 360
$17.30€14.89
-64.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.74DOP 2,286
$63.3€54.4
-38.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91DOP 408
$11.39€9.80
-39.33%
Cappuccino
$1.24DOP 73.0
$3.19€2.75
-61.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50DOP 29.47
$2.45€2.10
-79.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64DOP 37.53
$1.76€1.52
-63.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51DOP 148
$3.59€3.09
-30.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38DOP 199
$3.39€2.92
-0.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29DOP 75.9
$1.24€1.06
4.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57DOP 92.8
$1.98€1.71
-20.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71DOP 42.07
$1.52€1.31
-53.29%
Eggs
$1.43DOP 84.4
$4.04€3.48
-64.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.51DOP 266
$13.54€11.65
-66.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.89DOP 230
$8.39€7.22
-53.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.42DOP 202
$18.25€15.70
-81.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33DOP 78.5
$2.29€1.97
-41.92%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65DOP 38.34
$1.74€1.50
-62.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.84DOP 49.50
$1.86€1.60
-54.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70DOP 41.03
$2.63€2.26
-73.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65DOP 38.12
$1.92€1.65
-66.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89DOP 52.6
$2.09€1.80
-57.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62DOP 36.61
$1.44€1.24
-56.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98DOP 57.8
$0.84€0.72
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51DOP 148
$6.78€5.83
-62.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.71DOP 514
$5.71€4.91
52.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31DOP 136
$1.38€1.18
67.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07DOP 181
$2.22€1.91
38.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05DOP 61.8
$2.40€2.06
-56.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.78€40.25
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.47DOP 205
$4.17€3.59
-16.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.33DOP 137
$1.14€0.98
104.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78DOP 341
$17.68€15.21
-67.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23DOP 72.4
$2.32€2.00
-46.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0KDOP 1.4M
$35.3K€30.4K
-32.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KDOP 2.0M
$41.4K€35.7K
-16.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.3DOP 5,501
$170€147
-45.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.30DOP 1,021
$19.34€16.64
-10.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.20DOP 2,195
$33.64€28.95
10.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.10€41.39
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.90€17.12
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.65DOP 452
$9.92€8.54
-22.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$255DOP 15.1K
$717€617
-64.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,105DOP 419.2K
$17.5K€15.0K
-59.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.45DOP 1,088
$105€90.2
-82.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.35DOP 788
$46.95€40.40
-71.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5DOP 5,164
$103€89.0
-15.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126DOP 7,444
$124€107
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$419DOP 24.7K
$1,677€1,443
-75.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298DOP 17.6K
$1,271€1,094
-76.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,010DOP 59.6K
$2,985€2,568
-66.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$552DOP 32.6K
$1,992€1,715
-72.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,826€6,734
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,658€4,008
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,583€1,362
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.56
3.79
257.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto Plata: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $419 in Puerto Plata and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Puerto Plata vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $283 per month, with Puerto Plata 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
Puerto Plata vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Puerto Plata and in Lisbon?
Puerto Plata and Lisbon differ by about 177% in total monthly costs ($836 vs $2,316 including rent). Puerto Plata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Puerto Plata compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,255 in Puerto Plata 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 Puerto Plata and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $419 in Puerto Plata versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 87% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Puerto Plata or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $836 per month in Puerto Plata versus $2,316 in Lisbon – a 177% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $836 in Puerto Plata versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Plata but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Plata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Puerto Plata 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 Puerto Plata or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Puerto Plata 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: Puerto Plata or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Puerto Plata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 177% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Puerto Plata vs other spots: cost of living compared