😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,130 in Hermanus.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,789 in Hermanus.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,448 in Hermanus.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 97% more expensive than Hermanus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Hermanus is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.81
$13.87R 230
16.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.1
$33.40R 553
93.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.86
$4.75R 78.6
118.53%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.10R 34.82
31.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.18R 19.60
90.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.34
$0.77R 12.72
103.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.98
$2.19R 36.24
59.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.42
$2.59R 42.92
54.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.11R 18.35
-2.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.00R 16.61
74.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.48
$1.56R 25.87
11.54%
Eggs
$3.18€2.71
$2.45R 40.62
29.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.47
$7.68R 127
74.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.83
$4.48R 74.2
78.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.74
$6.78R 112
137.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.68R 27.89
35.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.54R 25.49
11.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.53R 25.30
26.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.17
$1.64R 27.18
54.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.56
$1.38R 22.76
32.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.74
$1.19R 19.70
71.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.09R 17.96
81.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.89R 14.80
-4.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.85
$2.82R 46.73
142.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.93
$7.04R 116
-17.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.38R 22.88
-0.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.64R 27.15
76.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.67R 27.56
36.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.00
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.48
$1.14R 18.87
257.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.95R 15.73
-13.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.60
$3.92R 64.9
366.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.71
$1.23R 20.43
63.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.1K
$21.1KR 349.6K
66.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$23.6KR 390.4K
63.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$128R 2,121
13.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.90
$35.70R 591
-41.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.21
$52.7R 871
-23.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.66
$17.75R 294
174.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€15.97
$9.69R 160
92.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.74
$4.86R 80.4
86.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€518
$200R 3,307
203.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€13.9K
$4,273R 70.7K
282.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.4
$51.4R 850
103.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€34.97
$32.60R 540
25.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€79.9
$90.0R 1,489
3.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$78.6R 1,301
50.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,370
$360R 5,962
345.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,055
$415R 6,873
197.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,601
$682R 11.3K
346.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,756
$919R 15.2K
123.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,583
$781R 12.9K
887.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,644
$691R 11.4K
517.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,353
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.51
-66.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Hermanus: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $360 in Hermanus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Hermanus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $181 per month, with Hermanus 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 Hermanus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hermanus cheaper than Lisbon?
Hermanus is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 97% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,694 in Hermanus 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 Lisbon and Hermanus?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $360 in Hermanus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Hermanus?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Hermanus?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $1,130 in Hermanus – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Hermanus?
At $1,130 in Hermanus versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hermanus but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Hermanus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Hermanus more family-friendly?
For families, Hermanus 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, Lisbon or Hermanus?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Hermanus 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 Hermanus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.