😐A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $1,254 in Jamestown, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $1,736 in Jamestown, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $2,218 in Jamestown, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 78% more than Jamestown, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Lisbon sits 66% above the global median, while Jamestown is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$16.07SHP 11.91
0.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$48.49SHP 35.93
33.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.89SHP 6.59
16.76%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.98SHP 2.21
-7.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.14SHP 0.84
97.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.21SHP 0.89
29.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$4.69SHP 3.48
-25.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.64SHP 1.95
51.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.89SHP 1.40
-42.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.64SHP 1.22
6.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.39SHP 1.03
25.18%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$4.32SHP 3.20
-26.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.07SHP 5.98
66.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$10.80SHP 8.00
-26.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$10.79SHP 8.00
49.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$2.78SHP 2.06
-28.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$2.25SHP 1.67
-62.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$11.03SHP 8.17
-37.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$40.62SHP 30.10
15.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$2.79SHP 2.07
46.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$109SHP 80.8
-63.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$6.90SHP 5.11
607.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$41.55SHP 30.79
151.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$20.61SHP 15.28
98.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$46.98SHP 34.81
99.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$676SHP 501
137.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$623SHP 461
98.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$700SHP 519
334.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$718SHP 532
186.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Jamestown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.2
-38.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Jamestown: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $676 in Jamestown. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $48.00 in Jamestown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $207 – making Jamestown the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Jamestown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jamestown cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 78%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $1,881 in Jamestown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jamestown, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Jamestown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Jamestown?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Jamestown?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jamestown, where all-in costs run around $1,254, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Jamestown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Jamestown more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jamestown – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Jamestown?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jamestown. 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.