😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,333 in Roodepoort.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,907 in Roodepoort.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,481 in Roodepoort.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 66% more expensive than Roodepoort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Roodepoort is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$11.08R 180
43.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$45.62R 741
41.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$4.69R 76.2
124.09%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.10R 34.12
36.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.99R 16.05
126.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.81R 13.21
85.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.21R 35.98
57.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.45R 39.87
58.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.21R 19.62
-5.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.05R 17.10
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.71R 27.78
2.92%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.53R 41.06
27.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$8.08R 131
66.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.77R 77.5
65.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$6.76R 110
134.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.71R 27.78
35.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.54R 25.07
10.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.66R 26.95
21.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.61R 26.24
52.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.37R 22.30
34.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.36R 22.09
47.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.14R 18.54
69.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.17R 19.01
-32.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.88R 46.79
129.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$5.25R 85.4
8.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.31R 21.30
4.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.60R 25.96
85.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.68R 27.26
41.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.10R 17.87
290.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.89R 14.42
-7.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$3.12R 50.7
486.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.27R 20.58
62.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$19.2KR 311.8K
78.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$23.6KR 383.7K
66.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$126R 2,046
17.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$37.73R 613
-45.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$43.33R 704
-8.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$38.63R 628
23.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$10.19R 166
85.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$7.22R 117
27.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$208R 3,372
195.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,869R 79.1K
229.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$50.5R 820
107.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$31.61R 514
33.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$88.1R 1,431
6.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$80.2R 1,303
49.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$562R 9,129
189.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$605R 9,833
107.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$1,414R 23.0K
114.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$875R 14.2K
130.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Roodepoort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,563R 25.4K
2.58%
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 Roodepoort: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $562 in Roodepoort. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $46.00 in Roodepoort for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $186 per month, with Roodepoort 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 Roodepoort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Roodepoort?
Lisbon and Roodepoort differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,333 including rent). Roodepoort is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Roodepoort?
Lisbon pays 3% 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 Roodepoort?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $562 in Roodepoort. 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 45% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Roodepoort?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,333 in Roodepoort – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,333 in Roodepoort versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roodepoort but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Roodepoort the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Roodepoort?
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 Roodepoort safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Roodepoort 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 Roodepoort?
Expats usually find Roodepoort gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.