😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,166 in Hermanus.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,815 in Hermanus.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,463 in Hermanus.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 96% more expensive than in Hermanus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Hermanus is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.74
$14.09R 235
11.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.3
$32.15R 536
97.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.11
$4.79R 79.8
118.16%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.54
$2.04R 34.03
42.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.17R 19.47
95.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$0.75R 12.56
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.11
$2.18R 36.38
63.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$2.50R 41.63
58.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.12R 18.58
-3.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.54
$1.06R 17.62
66.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.62R 26.93
4.94%
Eggs
$3.25€2.83
$2.43R 40.46
33.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.55
$7.84R 131
69.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.72
$4.60R 76.6
67.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.75
$6.65R 111
137.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$1.68R 28.03
35.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$1.54R 25.66
7.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.48R 24.69
36.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$1.63R 27.17
51.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$1.37R 22.80
30.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.18R 19.61
75.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$1.09R 18.10
80.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$0.90R 15.05
-7.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.71
$2.74R 45.68
139.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.85
$7.03R 117
-20.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$1.39R 23.14
-4.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$1.66R 27.67
81.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.98
$1.61R 26.81
40.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.41
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$1.10R 18.38
284.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.88R 14.69
-3.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.41
$4.00R 66.6
370.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.76
$1.22R 20.39
65.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$21.2KR 352.7K
65.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$24.2KR 403.8K
63.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$129R 2,146
14.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.89
$34.98R 583
-41.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.46
$52.9R 881
-25.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.00
$17.52R 292
174.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.03
$9.77R 163
88.23%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.93
$4.81R 80.1
89.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€536
$196R 3,270
213.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$4,384R 73.0K
271.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$50.0R 833
103.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.69
$32.66R 544
28.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.5
$89.5R 1,490
3.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$80.0R 1,332
52.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,405
$361R 6,012
346.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,093
$427R 7,117
193.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,676
$694R 11.6K
342.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,776
$907R 15.1K
124.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,757
$858R 14.3K
803.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,737
$650R 10.8K
559.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hermanus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,396
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hermanus: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $361 in Hermanus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $32.00 in Hermanus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $182 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 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,420 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $361 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 46% 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 $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $1,166 in Hermanus – a 96% 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 $2,280 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 96% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.