Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Saanich Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Saanich

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,557 in Saanich.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,595 in Saanich.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,633 in Saanich.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 14% less than in Saanich, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Saanich 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$14.59 CA$20.27
9.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$67.1 CA$93.2
-3.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$10.88 CA$15.12
-3.40%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.87 CA$5.38
-25.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.24 CA$3.11
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$1.81 CA$2.52
-17.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$5.30 CA$7.36
-34.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$6.66 CA$9.25
-41.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.73 CA$2.40
-34.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.75 CA$3.82
-36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$5.29 CA$7.35
-66.73%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.60 CA$5.01
-10.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$11.16 CA$15.51
20.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$12.84 CA$17.85
-38.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$13.15 CA$18.27
20.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$4.41 CA$6.13
-47.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.60 CA$2.23
6.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$4.51 CA$6.27
-55.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$4.88 CA$6.78
-49.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$3.77 CA$5.24
-51.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$3.27 CA$4.54
-38.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.65 CA$3.68
-27.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$2.51 CA$3.49
-68.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$11.85 CA$16.47
-44.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$15.65 CA$21.74
-63.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$3.87 CA$5.38
-64.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$4.55 CA$6.33
-34.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.88 CA$2.61
26.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$80.7 CA$112
-43.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.70 CA$3.75
58.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.37 CA$1.91
-40.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$32.68 CA$45.40
-44.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.35 CA$1.88
52.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$25.3K CA$35.2K
35.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$21.3K CA$29.5K
84.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$136 CA$189
8.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$21.17 CA$29.41
-3.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$72.0 CA$100
-44.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$73.8 CA$103
-35.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$11.65 CA$16.19
-21.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$626 CA$870
-1.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$14.2K CA$19.7K
13.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$58.3 CA$81.1
79.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$36.36 CA$50.5
15.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$96.4 CA$134
-2.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$112 CA$156
6.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$1,480 CA$2,056
9.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$1,359 CA$1,889
-7.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$2,129 CA$2,958
42.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$1,919 CA$2,666
5.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$4,368 CA$6,069
78.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$3,304 CA$4,590
29.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Saanich
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$2,943 CA$4,089
-45.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.18
-38.35%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Saanich: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,480 in Saanich. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saanich pays 84% 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 $67.0 in Saanich for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $410 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 Saanich: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Saanich?
Lisbon and Saanich differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,557 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Saanich earns 84% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Saanich?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,480 in Saanich. 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 Saanich?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $626 in Saanich. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Saanich. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Saanich?
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 Saanich safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Saanich 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 Saanich?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Saanich. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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