🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,150 in Quetzaltenango versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,444 in Quetzaltenango versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,739 in Quetzaltenango versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Quetzaltenango costs roughly 49% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Quetzaltenango is 17% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.67Q 50.9
$17.55€15.12
-61.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3Q 383
$64.5€55.6
-22.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.00Q 61.0
$11.65€10.04
-31.33%
Cappuccino
$3.33Q 25.42
$3.26€2.81
2.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11Q 8.46
$2.49€2.15
-55.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85Q 6.51
$1.67€1.44
-49.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25Q 24.79
$3.47€2.99
-6.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84Q 36.89
$3.58€3.08
35.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10Q 15.99
$1.18€1.02
77.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.57Q 19.61
$1.95€1.68
31.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05Q 15.65
$1.56€1.35
31.41%
Eggs
$2.47Q 18.82
$4.01€3.46
-38.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.19Q 47.18
$13.27€11.44
-53.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.04Q 61.3
$8.42€7.26
-4.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22Q 101
$18.23€15.72
-27.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84Q 21.68
$2.32€2.00
22.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70Q 12.98
$1.73€1.49
-1.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Q 21.30
$1.93€1.67
44.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Q 12.17
$2.64€2.27
-39.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52Q 11.60
$1.90€1.64
-20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Q 16.70
$2.11€1.82
3.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72Q 5.51
$1.44€1.24
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15Q 8.77
$0.80€0.69
43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36Q 25.65
$7.01€6.04
-52.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.28Q 63.2
$5.92€5.11
39.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79Q 13.63
$1.36€1.18
31.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59Q 19.78
$2.15€1.85
20.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.38€2.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.22€39.85
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.30Q 40.46
$4.19€3.61
26.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68Q 12.85
$1.10€0.95
52.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.54Q 80.4
$17.26€14.88
-38.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24Q 9.43
$2.25€1.94
-44.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KQ 211.5K
$34.5K€29.7K
-19.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KQ 195.2K
$41.6K€35.9K
-38.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.0Q 572
$171€147
-56.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.24Q 101
$19.01€16.38
-30.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.17Q 345
$34.28€29.55
31.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.36Q 247
$49.65€42.80
-34.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.51€16.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.53Q 49.82
$10.10€8.71
-35.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$342Q 2,612
$699€603
-51.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,774Q 51.7K
$17.8K€15.3K
-61.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.47Q 362
$105€90.2
-54.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.46Q 362
$47.97€41.35
-1.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111Q 844
$102€87.8
8.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113Q 861
$128€111
-12.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$398Q 3,034
$1,661€1,432
-76.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$391Q 2,981
$1,228€1,059
-68.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,915€2,513
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,023€1,744
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$8,129€7,007
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,635€3,996
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,619€1,396
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.62
3.78
207.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quetzaltenango: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $398 in Quetzaltenango and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Quetzaltenango vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $281 per month, with Quetzaltenango 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
Quetzaltenango vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Quetzaltenango and in Lisbon?
Quetzaltenango and Lisbon differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($1,150 vs $2,268 including rent). Quetzaltenango is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Quetzaltenango compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,725 in Quetzaltenango and $3,402 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 Quetzaltenango and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $398 in Quetzaltenango versus $1,661 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 7% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Quetzaltenango or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,150 per month in Quetzaltenango versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,150 in Quetzaltenango versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Quetzaltenango but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Quetzaltenango the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Quetzaltenango 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 Quetzaltenango or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Quetzaltenango 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: Quetzaltenango or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Quetzaltenango gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Quetzaltenango vs other spots: cost of living compared