😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,010 in Jeffreys Bay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,535 in Jeffreys Bay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,061 in Jeffreys Bay.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 119% more expensive than Jeffreys Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Jeffreys Bay is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$5.52R 89.8
188.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$33.53R 545
93.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$5.62R 91.3
87.01%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.80R 29.21
59.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.68R 11.10
229.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.98R 15.93
53.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.87R 30.36
86.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.77R 28.83
119.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.04R 16.96
9.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.01R 16.39
73.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.63R 26.56
7.98%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.73R 44.33
17.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$5.86R 95.2
130.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.46R 72.4
77.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$7.15R 116
121.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.94R 31.59
19.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.53R 24.88
11.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.55R 25.20
29.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.59R 25.77
54.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.30R 21.13
41.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.19R 19.37
68.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.06R 17.22
82.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.04R 16.97
-24.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.74R 44.46
141.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$3.80R 61.7
50.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.44R 23.35
-4.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.77R 28.72
67.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.67R 27.18
41.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.10R 17.83
290.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.95R 15.39
-13.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$4.07R 66.1
349.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.24R 20.08
66.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$20.9KR 339.2K
64.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$23.5KR 382.5K
66.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$139R 2,262
6.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$54.8R 891
-62.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$60.5R 983
-34.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$30.94R 503
54.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$5.52R 89.7
242.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$6.68R 109
37.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$127R 2,059
384.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,275R 69.5K
275.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$50.1R 814
108.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$32.07R 521
31.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$89.2R 1,449
5.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$78.5R 1,275
52.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$358R 5,817
354.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$329R 5,353
281.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$693R 11.3K
336.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$598R 9,711
238.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$796R 12.9K
879.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$692R 11.2K
517.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Jeffreys Bay: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $358 in Jeffreys Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Jeffreys Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $174 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 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,515 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: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $358 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 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 vs Jeffreys Bay?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,010 in Jeffreys Bay – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Jeffreys Bay?
At $1,010 in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,210 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 119% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.