🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $830 in Puerto Plata versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Puerto Plata versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,733 in Puerto Plata versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Puerto Plata costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Puerto Plata is 38% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.00DOP 291
$15.91€13.70
-68.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.71DOP 2,195
$64.8€55.8
-41.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.28DOP 424
$10.51€9.05
-30.73%
Cappuccino
$1.31DOP 76.1
$2.87€2.47
-54.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89DOP 51.9
$2.24€1.93
-60.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72DOP 42.12
$1.50€1.29
-52.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41DOP 141
$3.49€3.01
-30.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90DOP 227
$3.88€3.34
0.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99DOP 57.7
$1.14€0.98
-13.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81DOP 105
$1.75€1.51
3.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04DOP 60.5
$1.76€1.51
-40.91%
Eggs
$1.41DOP 82.2
$3.22€2.77
-56.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.06DOP 178
$13.49€11.61
-77.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15DOP 242
$7.91€6.81
-47.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.71DOP 216
$15.87€13.67
-76.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34DOP 195
$2.31€1.99
44.59%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93DOP 53.9
$1.70€1.46
-45.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.93DOP 171
$2.01€1.73
45.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96DOP 114
$2.46€2.12
-20.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89DOP 110
$1.84€1.59
2.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.36DOP 137
$2.00€1.72
18.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13DOP 65.6
$1.93€1.66
-41.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.15DOP 8.71
$0.79€0.68
-81.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36DOP 195
$6.61€5.69
-49.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.35DOP 486
$5.72€4.93
45.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63DOP 153
$1.37€1.18
91.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17DOP 184
$2.97€2.56
6.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50DOP 28.90
$2.37€2.04
-78.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.04DOP 1,749
$45.56€39.22
-34.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.30DOP 192
$4.29€3.69
-23.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12DOP 123
$0.82€0.70
158.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.51DOP 146
$18.30€15.76
-86.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26DOP 73.5
$2.06€1.78
-38.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KDOP 1.5M
$34.3K€29.5K
-22.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KDOP 1.8M
$39.3K€33.8K
-20.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.6DOP 3,004
$148€127
-65.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.92DOP 1,451
$20.52€17.67
21.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.22DOP 2,109
$39.61€34.10
-8.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.34DOP 485
$47.85€41.19
-82.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.60DOP 500
$18.92€16.29
-54.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.69DOP 273
$9.18€7.91
-48.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269DOP 15.7K
$614€529
-56.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,037DOP 60.4K
$16.0K€13.8K
-93.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.63DOP 2,656
$105€90.1
-56.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.35DOP 2,581
$42.06€36.21
5.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.6DOP 5,096
$94.0€80.9
-6.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.6DOP 3,644
$120€103
-47.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$354DOP 20.6K
$1,628€1,401
-78.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$276DOP 16.0K
$1,255€1,081
-78.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825DOP 48.0K
$3,030€2,609
-72.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$416DOP 24.2K
$2,020€1,739
-79.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,715
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,678
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Plata
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603€1,380
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.15
3.81
87.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto Plata: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Puerto Plata and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Puerto Plata vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Puerto Plata and Lisbon differ by about 166% in total monthly costs ($830 vs $2,210 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 $1,245 in Puerto Plata 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Puerto Plata and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $354 in Puerto Plata versus $1,628 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 Puerto Plata and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $269 in Puerto Plata versus $614 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 54% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $830 in Puerto Plata versus $2,210 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 166% 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