Cost of Living Comparison Between Toluca and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Toluca and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,162 in Toluca versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,878 in Toluca versus $3,289 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,594 in Toluca versus $4,369 in Lisbon.

Living in Toluca costs roughly 47% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Toluca is 13% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35 MX$163
$15.71 €13.76
-40.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.19 MX$734
$62.9 €55.1
-32.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.74 MX$135
$10.53 €9.23
-26.50%
Cappuccino
$2.93 MX$51.0
$2.88 €2.53
1.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 MX$19.87
$2.25 €1.97
-49.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MX$14.08
$1.56 €1.36
-48.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 MX$37.70
$3.39 €2.97
-35.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 MX$58.3
$3.90 €3.41
-14.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.68
$1.08 €0.95
25.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.37 MX$58.6
$1.73 €1.51
94.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 MX$33.52
$1.76 €1.54
9.66%
Eggs
$2.66 MX$46.23
$3.16 €2.77
-15.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.81 MX$101
$13.29 €11.64
-56.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.79 MX$170
$7.87 €6.89
24.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.90 MX$207
$15.84 €13.88
-24.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.15 MX$72.3
$2.40 €2.11
72.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 MX$29.96
$1.70 €1.49
1.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 MX$35.13
$2.03 €1.78
-0.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.87
$2.52 €2.21
-11.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 MX$43.22
$1.86 €1.63
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 MX$41.56
$2.06 €1.81
16.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 MX$32.74
$2.00 €1.75
-6.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 MX$17.02
$0.78 €0.68
25.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 MX$83.6
$6.65 €5.82
-27.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.95 MX$225
$5.78 €5.06
124.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$34.01
$1.38 €1.21
41.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 MX$59.1
$3.02 €2.64
12.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 MX$10.54
$2.33 €2.04
-73.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.45 €39.82
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$4.08 €3.57
-20.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 MX$39.35
$0.80 €0.70
182.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.98 MX$139
$18.65 €16.34
-57.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 MX$21.75
$2.00 €1.75
-37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K MX$489.4K
$35.4K €31.0K
-20.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K MX$492.5K
$39.1K €34.2K
-27.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.16 MX$821
$150 €132
-68.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.30 MX$371
$20.55 €18.01
3.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.91 MX$590
$39.45 €34.56
-14.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.7 MX$882
$48.06 €42.11
5.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.64 MX$394
$18.70 €16.38
21.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.72 MX$117
$9.30 €8.15
-27.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$169 MX$2,936
$628 €550
-73.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,076 MX$88.3K
$16.5K €14.4K
-69.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 MX$952
$102 €89.0
-46.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6 MX$1,073
$41.55 €36.40
48.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.2 MX$1,638
$92.5 €81.0
1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 MX$1,785
$123 €107
-16.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$644 MX$11.2K
$1,628 €1,426
-60.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 MX$6,509
$1,233 €1,080
-69.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$951 MX$16.5K
$3,126 €2,739
-69.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$739 MX$12.9K
$2,058 €1,803
-64.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,347 MX$23.4K
$7,762 €6,801
-82.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$950 MX$16.5K
$4,386 €3,843
-78.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toluca
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,316 MX$22.9K
$1,621 €1,420
-18.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.12
3.81
191.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Toluca: July 21, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Toluca and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Toluca vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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
Toluca vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Toluca and in Lisbon?
Toluca and Lisbon differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($1,162 vs $2,210 including rent). Toluca is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Toluca and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $644 in Toluca versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Toluca or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,162 per month in Toluca versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 90% 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 $1,162 in Toluca versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Toluca but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Toluca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Toluca 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 Toluca or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Toluca 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: Toluca or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Toluca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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