🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,434 in Centurion versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,285 in Centurion versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,136 in Centurion versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Centurion costs roughly 37% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Centurion4% above, Lisbon64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.24R 360
$17.55€15.13
26.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.63R 673
$64.5€55.6
-35.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.18R 100.0
$11.65€10.04
-46.95%
Cappuccino
$2.73R 44.19
$3.26€2.81
-16.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00R 16.20
$2.49€2.15
-59.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89R 14.41
$1.67€1.44
-46.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25R 36.43
$3.47€2.99
-35.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51R 40.69
$3.58€3.08
-29.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26R 20.44
$1.18€1.02
6.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29R 20.87
$1.95€1.68
-33.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20R 35.52
$1.56€1.35
41.03%
Eggs
$3.15R 50.9
$4.01€3.46
-21.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29R 166
$13.27€11.45
-22.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.88R 111
$8.42€7.26
-18.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.25R 117
$18.23€15.72
-60.23%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88R 30.35
$2.32€2.00
-18.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85R 29.89
$1.73€1.49
6.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30R 37.15
$1.93€1.67
19.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18R 35.22
$2.64€2.28
-17.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65R 26.77
$1.90€1.64
-13.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95R 31.48
$2.11€1.82
-7.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40R 22.57
$1.44€1.24
-2.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52R 24.60
$0.80€0.69
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79R 61.4
$7.01€6.04
-45.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.37R 103
$5.92€5.11
7.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63R 26.38
$1.36€1.18
19.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11R 34.21
$2.15€1.85
-1.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.46R 39.84
$2.38€2.05
3.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101R 1,628
$46.22€39.86
117.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21R 19.62
$4.19€3.61
-71.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22R 19.71
$1.10€0.95
10.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.14R 148
$17.26€14.88
-47.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42R 22.92
$2.25€1.94
-36.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KR 591.6K
$34.5K€29.7K
6.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KR 543.4K
$41.6K€35.9K
-19.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146R 2,355
$171€147
-14.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.61R 511
$19.01€16.39
66.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.69R 691
$34.28€29.56
24.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.99R 744
$49.65€42.81
-7.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.51€16.82
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.11R 180
$10.10€8.71
10.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319R 5,164
$699€603
-54.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,504R 72.9K
$17.8K€15.3K
-74.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.7R 982
$105€90.2
-41.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.61R 738
$47.97€41.36
-4.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122R 1,979
$102€87.8
20.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108R 1,743
$128€111
-16.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349R 5,649
$1,661€1,433
-78.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$391R 6,327
$1,228€1,059
-68.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$604R 9,769
$2,915€2,514
-79.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$925R 15.0K
$2,023€1,745
-54.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$543R 8,783
$8,129€7,010
-93.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$638R 10.3K
$4,635€3,997
-86.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,456R 39.7K
$1,619€1,396
51.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.5
3.78
177.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Centurion: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Centurion and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Centurion pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Centurion vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $281 per month, with Centurion 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
Centurion vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Centurion or Lisbon?
Centurion wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Centurion the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Centurion or in Lisbon?
Average pay runs 52% higher in Centurion, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Centurion compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Centurion versus $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Centurion compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Centurion runs roughly 118% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Centurion and in Lisbon?
Childcare runs $319 in Centurion versus $699 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Centurion or in Lisbon?
At $1,434 in Centurion versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Centurion but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Centurion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Centurion or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Centurion delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,434 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Centurion hard to pass up.
How safe is Centurion compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Centurion 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Centurion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.