🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $2,686 in Mount Pleasant, SC.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $3,934 in Mount Pleasant, SC.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $5,183 in Mount Pleasant, SC.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 17% less than in Mount Pleasant, SC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Mount Pleasant, SC101% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$28.74$28.74
-45.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$79.2$79.2
-21.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$10.01$10.01
5.29%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$5.02$5.02
-44.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$2.50$2.50
-8.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$1.87$1.87
-17.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$5.85$5.85
-39.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$8.01$8.01
-50.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.02$1.02
5.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$3.90$3.90
-54.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$3.11$3.11
-43.09%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$4.62$4.62
-32.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$14.18$14.18
-5.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$14.50$14.50
-44.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
$17.12$17.12
-7.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$5.66$5.66
-59.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.66$1.66
-1.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$6.69$6.69
-70.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$4.04$4.04
-39.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$3.83$3.83
-53.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$2.70$2.70
-27.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$1.73$1.73
13.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.86$1.86
-56.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$7.52$7.52
-13.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$15.56$15.56
-63.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.78$1.78
-25.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$3.16$3.16
-5.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$1.96$1.96
19.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$2.94$2.94
44.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
$1.59$1.59
-47.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
$20.28$20.28
-7.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$0.83$0.83
149.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$33.6K$33.6K
4.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$24.4K$24.4K
57.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$141$141
6.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$63.5$63.5
-67.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$71.7$71.7
-44.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$42.69$42.69
13.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$13.18$13.18
-31.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$1,339$1,339
-54.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$24.2K$24.2K
-32.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$48.68$48.68
107.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
$35.72$35.72
13.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
$95.1$95.1
-2.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$152$152
-22.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$1,575$1,575
1.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$1,364$1,364
-9.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$2,627$2,627
14.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$2,237$2,237
-7.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
$3,028$3,028
163.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
$2,260$2,260
100.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.51
-41.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Mount Pleasant, SC: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $1,575 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $79.0 in Mount Pleasant, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $424 per month, with Lisbon 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 Mount Pleasant, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Mount Pleasant, SC?
Lisbon and Mount Pleasant, SC differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $2,686 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Mount Pleasant, SC?
You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $4,029 in Mount Pleasant, SC 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Mount Pleasant, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $1,575 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Mount Pleasant, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Mount Pleasant, SC?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $2,686 in Mount Pleasant, SC – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,217 in Lisbon versus $2,686 in Mount Pleasant, SC, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Mount Pleasant, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mount Pleasant, SC?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Mount Pleasant, SC safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mount Pleasant, SC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Mount Pleasant, SC?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Mount Pleasant, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.