🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $3,098 in Philipsburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $5,842 in Philipsburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $8,587 in Philipsburg.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 28% less than in Philipsburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Philipsburg132% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$14.89ANG 26.57
5.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$73.5ANG 131
-15.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$7.97ANG 14.23
32.25%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$4.43ANG 7.90
-37.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$2.97ANG 5.30
-23.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$3.60ANG 6.42
-56.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$3.03ANG 5.41
17.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$5.11ANG 9.12
-22.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$3.06ANG 5.46
-64.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$3.18ANG 5.68
-44.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$2.99ANG 5.33
-40.80%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$6.58ANG 11.74
-52.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$18.48ANG 32.99
-27.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$16.83ANG 30.04
-52.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
$19.80ANG 35.34
-19.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$5.98ANG 10.67
-61.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$5.92ANG 10.56
-72.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$9.35ANG 16.68
-78.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$6.43ANG 11.47
-61.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$3.93ANG 7.02
-54.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$3.97ANG 7.08
-50.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$4.43ANG 7.90
-55.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.97ANG 3.52
-59.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$7.78ANG 13.89
-15.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$10.91ANG 19.47
-47.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$3.32ANG 5.93
-60.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$2.87ANG 5.11
4.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$1.47ANG 2.62
59.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$14.94ANG 26.67
-71.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
$4.85ANG 8.66
-82.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.44ANG 2.56
43.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$222ANG 397
-31.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$32.97ANG 58.9
-36.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$69.2ANG 123
-42.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$63.3ANG 113
-23.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$12.75ANG 22.76
-29.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$371ANG 662
64.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$11.1KANG 19.9K
45.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$1,970ANG 3,517
-18.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$1,875ANG 3,347
-33.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$5,726ANG 10.2K
-47.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$5,589ANG 9,976
-63.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Philipsburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
$1,104ANG 1,970
47.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.75
-33.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Philipsburg: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $1,970 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $74.0 in Philipsburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $540 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 Philipsburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Philipsburg?
Lisbon and Philipsburg differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $3,098 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Philipsburg?
Lisbon pays 47% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Philipsburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $1,970 in Philipsburg. 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 101% higher in Philipsburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Philipsburg?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $3,098 in Philipsburg – a 40% 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 $3,098 in Philipsburg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Philipsburg. 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 Philipsburg?
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 Philipsburg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Philipsburg 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 Philipsburg?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Philipsburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.