Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Roseau

For one person, living is cheaper in Roseau: $1,259 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Roseau
🇩🇲 Dominica
$1,259
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Roseau

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Roseau actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $1,259 in Roseau.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Roseau $1,259

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $2,123 in Roseau.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Roseau $2,123

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $2,988 in Roseau.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Roseau $2,988

Living in Lisbon is roughly 75% more expensive than in Roseau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Roseau is 7% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$7.45 EC$20.11
128.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$56.2 EC$152
10.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$6.62 EC$17.89
66.47%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$4.19 EC$11.31
-25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$2.41 EC$6.50
-5.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.17 EC$5.86
-19.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$1.83 EC$4.93
86.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$2.66 EC$7.19
40.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$3.27 EC$8.82
-64.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.13 EC$5.76
-12.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.22 EC$3.29
26.23%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$5.44 EC$14.69
-25.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$2.42 EC$6.54
433.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$11.07 EC$29.90
-28.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$13.03 EC$35.19
35.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$6.58 EC$17.76
-65.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$2.44 EC$6.58
-28.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$4.57 EC$12.34
-58.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$5.07 EC$13.68
-49.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$3.52 EC$9.52
-47.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$3.04 EC$8.21
-35.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$2.11 EC$5.70
-31.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$2.72 EC$7.34
-71.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$7.46 EC$20.15
-10.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$10.91 EC$29.44
-48.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.63 EC$7.10
-47.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$2.99 EC$8.08
-29.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$1.88 EC$5.08
23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
$53.4 EC$144
-16.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$5.39 EC$14.54
-26.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$2.93 EC$7.90
-64.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$10.09 EC$27.25
69.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.43 EC$3.87
53.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$35.6K EC$96.0K
-5.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$29.6K EC$80.0K
29.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$143 EC$386
14.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$44.39 EC$120
-58.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$70.4 EC$190
-53.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$45.93 EC$124
-0.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$23.10 EC$62.4
-19.13%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$8.11 EC$21.89
20.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$131 EC$353
423.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$4,365 EC$11.8K
303.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$55.7 EC$150
86.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$36.72 EC$99.1
25.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$74.7 EC$202
33.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$91.5 EC$247
36.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$288 EC$778
451.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$207 EC$558
465.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$882 EC$2,381
223.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$645 EC$1,741
209.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$123 EC$333
6223.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$55.5 EC$150
7866.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Roseau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$473 EC$1,277
238.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
7.6
-49.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Roseau: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Roseau
$207 82.3% $962
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Roseau
$372 36.3% $99
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Roseau
$163 34.3% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Roseau
$258 19.7% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Roseau
$116 30.9% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Roseau
$62 4.9% $3.2
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Roseau
$81 28.6% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $288 in Roseau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 238% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $56.0 in Roseau. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $372, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇩🇲 Roseau
🕒 Local time
13:29 1:29 PM
08:29 8:29 AM
5 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
15,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

XCD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.04 XCD (1 XCD = 0.329 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Roseau 5,700 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Roseau

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Roseau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Roseau?
Lisbon and Roseau differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $1,259 including rent). Roseau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Roseau?
Average pay runs 238% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Roseau?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $288 in Roseau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Roseau?
Childcare runs $684 in Lisbon versus $131 in Roseau. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 36% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,259 in Roseau versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Roseau but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Roseau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Roseau?
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 Roseau safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Roseau 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 Roseau?
Expats usually find Roseau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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