Cost of Living Comparison Between Centurion and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Centurion and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,139 in Centurion versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Centurion versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,580 in Centurion versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Centurion costs roughly 48% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Centurion is 15% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.55 R 171
$15.91 €13.69
-33.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.64 R 547
$64.8 €55.7
-48.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.79 R 77.8
$10.51 €9.04
-54.42%
Cappuccino
$2.03 R 33.03
$2.87 €2.47
-29.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 R 16.59
$2.24 €1.93
-54.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 R 13.13
$1.50 €1.29
-46.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 R 36.14
$3.49 €3.00
-36.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 R 40.32
$3.88 €3.34
-36.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 R 19.34
$1.14 €0.98
4.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 R 17.19
$1.75 €1.51
-39.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 R 26.98
$1.76 €1.51
-5.68%
Eggs
$2.43 R 39.47
$3.22 €2.77
-24.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.14 R 132
$13.49 €11.61
-39.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.84 R 78.7
$7.91 €6.81
-38.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.66 R 108
$15.87 €13.65
-58.03%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 R 26.37
$2.31 €1.99
-29.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 R 24.06
$1.70 €1.46
-12.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 R 26.26
$2.01 €1.73
-19.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 R 26.71
$2.46 €2.12
-33.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 R 21.75
$1.84 €1.59
-27.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 R 23.59
$2.00 €1.72
-27.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 R 17.79
$1.93 €1.66
-43.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 R 17.36
$0.79 €0.68
35.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06 R 49.69
$6.61 €5.68
-53.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.17 R 100
$5.72 €4.92
7.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 R 23.47
$1.37 €1.17
5.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 R 28.00
$2.97 €2.56
-42.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.18 R 35.50
$2.37 €2.04
-8.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.0 R 1,479
$45.56 €39.19
99.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 R 18.39
$4.29 €3.69
-73.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 R 17.31
$0.82 €0.70
30.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 R 65.7
$18.30 €15.74
-77.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R 21.25
$2.06 €1.78
-36.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K R 370.1K
$34.3K €29.5K
-33.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K R 395.1K
$39.3K €33.8K
-38.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 R 1,951
$148 €127
-18.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.25 R 605
$20.52 €17.65
81.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.33 R 688
$39.61 €34.08
6.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.89 R 681
$47.85 €41.16
-12.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$0.93 R 15.13
$18.92 €16.28
-95.08%
Cinema Ticket
$7.71 R 125
$9.18 €7.90
-16.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$209 R 3,392
$614 €528
-66.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,282 R 69.6K
$16.0K €13.8K
-73.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.86 R 810
$105 €90.0
-52.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.17 R 523
$42.06 €36.18
-23.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 R 1,406
$94.0 €80.8
-7.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.2 R 1,433
$120 €103
-26.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$319 R 5,179
$1,628 €1,400
-80.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 R 5,352
$1,255 €1,080
-73.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$527 R 8,567
$3,030 €2,607
-82.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$803 R 13.1K
$2,020 €1,738
-60.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$522 R 8,489
$7,800 €6,709
-93.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$591 R 9,611
$4,273 €3,675
-86.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Centurion
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,129 R 34.6K
$1,603 €1,379
32.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.69
3.81
206.82%

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

Last update for Centurion: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $319 in Centurion and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Centurion pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Centurion vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $269 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 94% 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 Lisbon?
Centurion pays 33% more on average, 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 vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $319 in Centurion versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Centurion vs Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Centurion runs roughly 100% 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 Lisbon?
Childcare runs $209 in Centurion versus $614 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 Lisbon?
At $1,139 in Centurion versus $2,210 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 $1,139 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 94% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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