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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,142 in Centurion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,860 in Centurion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,577 in Centurion.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 101% more expensive than in Centurion, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Centurion is 14% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$10.55 R 174
53.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$33.51 R 553
88.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$4.63 R 76.4
122.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.10 R 34.70
34.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$0.98 R 16.25
133.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.80 R 13.26
97.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.29 R 37.74
48.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$2.48 R 40.96
62.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.19 R 19.65
-8.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.03 R 16.97
69.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.64 R 27.13
7.32%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.51 R 41.36
26.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$8.27 R 137
59.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$4.89 R 80.7
62.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$6.70 R 111
131.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.66 R 27.40
42.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.54 R 25.47
11.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.66 R 27.47
21.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.59 R 26.19
52.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.33 R 22.00
32.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.46 R 24.09
39.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.09 R 17.99
76.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.06 R 17.49
-19.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$3.13 R 51.6
110.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$6.06 R 100
-7.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.44 R 23.81
-7.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.72 R 28.35
72.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$2.22 R 36.65
2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$88.7 R 1,464
-48.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$1.14 R 18.88
271.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.10 R 18.10
-26.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$4.05 R 66.8
355.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.25 R 20.57
66.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$22.5K R 371.6K
53.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$23.6K R 388.7K
66.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$116 R 1,919
27.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$37.89 R 625
-46.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$41.49 R 685
-4.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$41.87 R 691
14.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$1.02 R 16.84
1723.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$7.38 R 122
24.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$204 R 3,369
201.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$4,328 R 71.4K
279.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$49.82 R 822
106.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$32.76 R 541
27.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$88.1 R 1,454
7.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$87.0 R 1,435
40.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$314 R 5,181
420.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$329 R 5,431
274.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$530 R 8,745
484.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$811 R 13.4K
150.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$530 R 8,743
1378.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$602 R 9,940
628.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Centurion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$2,165 R 35.7K
-25.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.69
-67.41%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Centurion: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $314 in Centurion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Centurion pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Centurion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $187 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
Lisbon vs Centurion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Centurion?
Centurion wins on cost – living expenses run 101% 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 Lisbon or in Centurion?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Centurion. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Centurion?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $314 in Centurion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Centurion?
A monthly transit pass in Centurion runs roughly 94% 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 Lisbon and in Centurion?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $204 in Centurion. 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 Lisbon or in Centurion?
At $1,142 in Centurion versus $2,291 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, Lisbon or Centurion?
Both work as nomad bases, but Centurion delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,142 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Centurion hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Centurion?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Centurion 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 101% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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