πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,010 in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,535 in Jeffreys Bay versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Jeffreys Bay versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Jeffreys Bay costs roughly 54% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Jeffreys Bay is 25% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.52RΒ 89.8
$15.91β¬13.69
-65.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.53RΒ 545
$64.8β¬55.7
-48.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.62RΒ 91.3
$10.51β¬9.04
-46.53%
Cappuccino
$1.80RΒ 29.21
$2.87β¬2.47
-37.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68RΒ 11.10
$2.24β¬1.93
-69.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98RΒ 15.93
$1.50β¬1.29
-34.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87RΒ 30.36
$3.49β¬3.00
-46.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77RΒ 28.83
$3.88β¬3.34
-54.38%
π Groceries & Markets
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04RΒ 16.96
$1.14β¬0.98
-8.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01RΒ 16.39
$1.75β¬1.51
-42.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63RΒ 26.56
$1.76β¬1.51
-7.39%
Eggs
$2.73RΒ 44.33
$3.22β¬2.77
-15.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.86RΒ 95.2
$13.49β¬11.61
-56.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.46RΒ 72.4
$7.91β¬6.81
-43.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.15RΒ 116
$15.87β¬13.65
-54.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94RΒ 31.59
$2.31β¬1.99
-16.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53RΒ 24.88
$1.70β¬1.46
-10.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55RΒ 25.20
$2.01β¬1.73
-22.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59RΒ 25.77
$2.46β¬2.12
-35.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30RΒ 21.13
$1.84β¬1.59
-29.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19RΒ 19.37
$2.00β¬1.72
-40.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06RΒ 17.22
$1.93β¬1.66
-45.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RΒ 16.97
$0.79β¬0.68
31.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74RΒ 44.46
$6.61β¬5.68
-58.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.80RΒ 61.7
$5.72β¬4.92
-33.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44RΒ 23.35
$1.37β¬1.17
5.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77RΒ 28.72
$2.97β¬2.56
-40.40%
π Getting Around
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67RΒ 27.18
$2.37β¬2.04
-29.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56β¬39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10RΒ 17.83
$4.29β¬3.69
-74.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.95RΒ 15.39
$0.82β¬0.70
15.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.07RΒ 66.1
$18.30β¬15.74
-77.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24RΒ 20.08
$2.06β¬1.78
-39.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KRΒ 339.2K
$34.3Kβ¬29.5K
-39.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KRΒ 382.5K
$39.3Kβ¬33.8K
-40.09%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139RΒ 2,262
$148β¬127
-5.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.8RΒ 891
$20.52β¬17.65
167.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.5RΒ 983
$39.61β¬34.08
52.66%
π Sport & Entertainment
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.94RΒ 503
$47.85β¬41.16
-35.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.52RΒ 89.7
$18.92β¬16.28
-70.82%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68RΒ 109
$9.18β¬7.90
-27.23%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127RΒ 2,059
$614β¬528
-79.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,275RΒ 69.5K
$16.0Kβ¬13.8K
-73.36%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1RΒ 814
$105β¬90.0
-52.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.07RΒ 521
$42.06β¬36.18
-23.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2RΒ 1,449
$94.0β¬80.8
-5.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5RΒ 1,275
$120β¬103
-34.43%
π Accommodation & Living
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$358RΒ 5,817
$1,628β¬1,400
-78.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329RΒ 5,353
$1,255β¬1,080
-73.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693RΒ 11.3K
$3,030β¬2,607
-77.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$598RΒ 9,711
$2,020β¬1,738
-70.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$796RΒ 12.9K
$7,800β¬6,709
-89.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$692RΒ 11.2K
$4,273β¬3,675
-83.81%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Jeffreys Bay
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603β¬1,379
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
3.81
202.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeffreys Bay: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Jeffreys Bay and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $34.00 in Jeffreys Bay vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $269 per month, with Jeffreys Bay 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
Jeffreys Bay vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Jeffreys Bay?
Jeffreys Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,515 in Jeffreys Bay and $3,315 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.
What is the rent difference between Jeffreys Bay and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $358 in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Jeffreys Bay and Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Jeffreys Bay vs Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,010 per month in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,210 in Lisbon β a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jeffreys Bay or Lisbon?
At $1,010 in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeffreys Bay but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Jeffreys Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Jeffreys Bay or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Jeffreys Bay is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Jeffreys Bay or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Jeffreys Bay 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jeffreys Bay gentler on the wallet β expenses run 119% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Jeffreys Bay vs other spots: cost of living compared