Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Durbanville

For one person, living is cheaper in Durbanville: $1,153 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Durbanville, South Africa
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Durbanville
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,153
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Durbanville

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Durbanville actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,153 in Durbanville, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Durbanville $1,153

A couple spends around $3,275 per month in Lisbon vs $1,834 in Durbanville, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Durbanville $1,834

A family of three spends $4,341 per month in Lisbon vs $2,516 in Durbanville, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Durbanville $2,516

Lisbon costs about 92% more than Durbanville, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lisbon sits 62% above the global median, while Durbanville is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$12.29 R 205
35.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$46.72 R 778
32.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$6.00 R 100.0
89.33%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$2.46 R 41.00
20.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$0.94 R 15.71
143.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$0.63 R 10.55
176.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$2.40 R 40.01
41.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$2.80 R 46.60
18.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.33 R 22.11
-12.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$1.23 R 20.42
55.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$2.16 R 36.04
-30.09%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$3.24 R 54.0
24.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$8.97 R 149
44.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$6.85 R 114
13.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$9.69 R 161
83.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$1.91 R 31.79
20.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$1.92 R 32.07
-9.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$1.77 R 29.49
5.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$2.16 R 36.06
19.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$1.55 R 25.76
17.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$1.49 R 24.81
32.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.30 R 21.69
13.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$1.15 R 19.21
-37.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$3.58 R 59.6
83.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$5.95 R 99.1
-5.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$1.41 R 23.49
-3.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$2.19 R 36.53
-2.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$1.54 R 25.60
51.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$0.59 R 9.81
552.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$1.53 R 25.52
-30.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
$5.12 R 85.3
221.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$1.61 R 26.78
36.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$35.5K R 591.6K
-3.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$34.4K R 572.5K
12.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$116 R 1,931
39.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$29.03 R 484
-36.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$40.89 R 681
-19.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$31.91 R 532
39.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$10.78 R 180
77.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$9.19 R 153
4.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$266 R 4,435
150.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$6,797 R 113.3K
159.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$55.6 R 927
83.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$32.11 R 535
38.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$120 R 2,000
-17.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$107 R 1,787
15.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$390 R 6,506
311.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$364 R 6,073
226.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$735 R 12.2K
282.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$732 R 12.2K
174.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$866 R 14.4K
805.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$683 R 11.4K
569.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Durbanville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$1,033 R 17.2K
52.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
10.97
-64.90%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Durbanville: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Durbanville
$364 69.4% $826
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Durbanville
$226 16.9% $46
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Durbanville
$170 30% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Durbanville
$186 12.5% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Durbanville
$142 14.6% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Durbanville
$50 21.1% $13
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Durbanville
$14 * 77.2% $49

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Lisbon versus $390 in Durbanville. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Lisbon versus $47 in Durbanville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $226 – making Durbanville the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇿🇦 Durbanville
🕒 Local time
18:04 6:04 PM
20:04 8:04 PM
2 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
40,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 16.66 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6 USD). 1 EUR = 18.55 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.39 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Durbanville 8,560 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Durbanville

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Durbanville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Durbanville?
Lisbon costs about 92% more than Durbanville, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Durbanville?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,729 in Durbanville. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Durbanville?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Durbanville, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $390 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Durbanville?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,153 in Durbanville. That’s a gap of about 92%.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Durbanville?
Kindergarten costs $668 per month in Lisbon and $266 in Durbanville. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Durbanville?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,153 in Durbanville. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Durbanville – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Durbanville?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Durbanville?
If budget matters most, go with Durbanville. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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