🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,071 in Quetzaltenango versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,424 in Quetzaltenango versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,776 in Quetzaltenango versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Quetzaltenango costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Quetzaltenango is 20% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.02Q 30.64
$15.75€13.74
-74.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.88Q 258
$63.5€55.3
-46.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16Q 46.96
$10.45€9.11
-41.05%
Cappuccino
$2.54Q 19.33
$2.91€2.54
-12.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48Q 3.68
$2.29€2.00
-79.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Q 3.96
$1.50€1.31
-65.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39Q 10.59
$3.56€3.11
-60.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04Q 15.55
$3.96€3.46
-48.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75Q 13.33
$1.08€0.94
62.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68Q 20.45
$1.76€1.54
52.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13Q 16.20
$1.70€1.48
25.29%
Eggs
$2.23Q 17.01
$3.25€2.83
-31.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.63Q 58.2
$13.25€11.55
-42.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.24Q 47.54
$7.70€6.72
-18.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36Q 71.4
$15.77€13.75
-40.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50Q 19.06
$2.28€1.99
9.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Q 11.92
$1.66€1.44
-6.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.09Q 23.53
$2.02€1.76
52.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02Q 7.74
$2.47€2.16
-58.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74Q 13.27
$1.79€1.56
-2.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99Q 15.18
$2.07€1.80
-3.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71Q 5.41
$1.97€1.72
-63.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23Q 9.39
$0.83€0.73
48.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20Q 24.43
$6.55€5.71
-51.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.19Q 62.5
$5.57€4.85
47.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62Q 12.31
$1.33€1.16
21.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48Q 18.89
$3.01€2.62
-17.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Q 2.07
$2.27€1.98
-88.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.35€40.41
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.65Q 27.82
$4.23€3.69
-13.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60Q 4.60
$0.85€0.74
-29.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.58Q 50.2
$18.83€16.41
-65.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96Q 7.28
$2.02€1.76
-52.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.1KQ 122.9K
$35.0K€30.5K
-53.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KQ 170.7K
$39.6K€34.6K
-43.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Q 602
$148€129
-46.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.02Q 99.3
$20.52€17.89
-36.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.44Q 377
$39.52€34.46
25.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.97Q 251
$48.17€42.00
-31.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39€16.03
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.01Q 53.5
$9.10€7.93
-22.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$245Q 1,865
$615€536
-60.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,750Q 43.8K
$16.3K€14.2K
-64.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.55Q 378
$102€88.6
-51.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2Q 413
$42.09€36.69
28.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111Q 849
$92.3€80.5
20.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124Q 945
$122€106
1.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$216Q 1,649
$1,612€1,405
-86.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415Q 3,167
$1,254€1,093
-66.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381Q 2,905
$3,069€2,676
-87.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$255Q 1,947
$2,037€1,776
-87.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,751€6,757
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,286€3,737
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetzaltenango
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,602€1,396
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.69
3.81
101.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quetzaltenango: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $216 in Quetzaltenango and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Quetzaltenango vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $267 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 113% in total monthly costs ($1,071 vs $2,280 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 $1,607 in Quetzaltenango and $3,420 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: $216 in Quetzaltenango versus $1,612 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 11% 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 $1,071 per month in Quetzaltenango versus $2,280 in Lisbon – a 113% 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 $1,071 in Quetzaltenango versus $2,280 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 113% 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