😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,166 in Hermanus.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,821 in Hermanus.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $2,475 in Hermanus.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 94% more expensive than in Hermanus, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Hermanus is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$13.55R 218
29.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$37.29R 601
72.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$5.99R 96.5
94.49%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$2.40R 38.57
35.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$1.07R 17.22
132.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.81R 13.02
106.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$2.15R 34.60
61.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$2.44R 39.23
46.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.21R 19.50
-2.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.17R 18.76
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.67R 26.97
-6.59%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.89R 46.54
38.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$8.80R 142
50.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$5.27R 84.8
59.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$6.48R 104
181.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$1.79R 28.86
29.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.72R 27.76
0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.65R 26.62
16.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.71R 27.58
54.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.43R 23.07
32.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.68R 27.04
25.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.37R 21.98
5.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.36R 21.92
-41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$3.30R 53.2
112.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$7.39R 119
-19.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.51R 24.31
-9.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.03R 32.65
5.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$1.72R 27.68
38.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$0.65R 10.43
544.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.82R 13.24
34.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$9.45R 152
82.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.46R 23.56
54.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$31.7KR 509.9K
8.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$34.4KR 553.6K
21.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$143R 2,296
19.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$35.21R 567
-46.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$42.48R 684
-19.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$21.68R 349
129.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
$14.32R 231
36.24%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$6.09R 98.1
65.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$282R 4,534
148.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$6,468R 104.2K
174.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$55.7R 897
87.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
$38.35R 618
25.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$107R 1,726
-4.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$93.0R 1,498
37.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$421R 6,785
294.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$370R 5,956
232.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$817R 13.2K
256.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$774R 12.5K
161.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$881R 14.2K
822.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
$685R 11.0K
576.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
11
-65.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Hermanus: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $421 in Hermanus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $37.00 in Hermanus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $204 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 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,402 in Lisbon and $1,749 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: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $421 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 in Hermanus?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Hermanus?
All in, you'll spend $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $1,166 in Hermanus – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Hermanus?
At $1,166 in Hermanus versus $2,268 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 94% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.