😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,087 in Jeffreys Bay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,614 in Jeffreys Bay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,141 in Jeffreys Bay.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 113% more expensive than in Jeffreys Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Jeffreys Bay is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.87
$7.59R 121
127.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$27.69R 443
128.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.79
$6.17R 98.6
84.60%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.74
$1.92R 30.65
66.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$0.75R 11.95
226.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.66R 10.49
166.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.05R 32.86
75.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$2.08R 33.19
62.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.18R 18.86
5.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.04R 16.67
90.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.49R 23.83
2.01%
Eggs
$4.04€3.47
$2.88R 46.10
40.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.64
$6.53R 104
107.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.21
$5.24R 83.7
60.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.69
$7.93R 127
130.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.17R 34.78
5.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.55R 24.71
12.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.75R 28.06
6.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$1.84R 29.49
42.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.74R 27.80
10.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.23R 19.65
69.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.28R 20.52
12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.01R 16.21
-16.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$3.28R 52.5
106.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$3.92R 62.7
45.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.30R 20.84
6.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$1.79R 28.68
24.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$1.54R 24.56
55.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.22
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$0.64R 10.26
551.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.51R 8.20
123.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.20
$8.63R 138
104.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.46R 23.30
58.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$21.6KR 346.2K
63.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.6K
$17.8KR 284.8K
132.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€146
$129R 2,069
31.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.62
$35.54R 568
-45.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.92
$46.48R 743
-27.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.35
$32.54R 520
47.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.11
$6.16R 98.5
223.05%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.53
$3.04R 48.62
226.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$145R 2,314
395.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$6,432R 102.9K
171.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$72.5R 1,159
44.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.36
$42.30R 677
10.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$116R 1,856
-10.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$101R 1,619
22.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,441
$398R 6,370
320.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,093
$363R 5,808
249.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,566
$761R 12.2K
292.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,713
$649R 10.4K
206.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,728
$883R 14.1K
786.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,004
$654R 10.5K
611.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Jeffreys Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,361
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
11.94
-68.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Jeffreys Bay: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $398 in Jeffreys Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Jeffreys Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $189 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 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $1,630 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: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $398 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 50% 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 $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $1,087 in Jeffreys Bay – a 113% 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 $1,087 in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,316 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 113% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.