😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,029 in Jeffreys Bay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,520 in Jeffreys Bay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,010 in Jeffreys Bay.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 123% more expensive than in Jeffreys Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Jeffreys Bay is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$5.46R 90.4
196.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$33.63R 557
88.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$5.35R 88.6
92.90%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.76R 29.06
60.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.73R 12.05
213.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.00R 16.56
58.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.77R 29.26
92.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$1.78R 29.47
126.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.03R 17.02
5.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.95R 15.72
84.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.72R 28.43
2.33%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.60R 42.96
21.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$6.05R 100
118.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$4.64R 76.8
71.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$6.84R 113
127.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.96R 32.39
20.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.47R 24.29
16.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.48R 24.52
35.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.58R 26.18
53.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.32R 21.87
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.25R 20.62
62.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.10R 18.21
74.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.05R 17.37
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.73R 45.17
141.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$3.69R 61.1
51.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.39R 22.93
-4.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.85R 30.56
60.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.64R 27.12
39.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.09R 18.12
288.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.96R 15.95
-15.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$4.11R 68.0
348.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.25R 20.68
66.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$21.5KR 356.1K
61.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$24.0KR 397.8K
62.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$139R 2,298
6.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$55.1R 912
-62.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$59.2R 980
-33.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$31.20R 517
53.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$5.48R 90.8
239.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$6.87R 114
34.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$129R 2,133
378.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$4,359R 72.2K
277.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$51.4R 851
99.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$32.56R 539
28.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$89.2R 1,477
6.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$81.3R 1,346
50.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$357R 5,914
356.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$322R 5,337
282.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$674R 11.2K
359.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$577R 9,555
251.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$747R 12.4K
948.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$726R 12.0K
504.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
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 14, 2026
Last update for Jeffreys Bay: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $357 in Jeffreys Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Jeffreys Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $173 per month, with Jeffreys Bay 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 Jeffreys Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jeffreys Bay cheaper than Lisbon?
Jeffreys Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 123% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,543 in Jeffreys Bay 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 Jeffreys Bay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $357 in Jeffreys Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Jeffreys Bay?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% 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 Jeffreys Bay?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,029 in Jeffreys Bay – a 123% 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 Jeffreys Bay?
At $1,029 in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeffreys Bay but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Jeffreys Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Jeffreys Bay more family-friendly?
For families, Jeffreys Bay 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 Jeffreys Bay?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Jeffreys Bay 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 Jeffreys Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 123% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.