😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $1,320 in Saguenay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $2,369 in Saguenay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $3,418 in Saguenay.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 71% more expensive than Saguenay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Saguenay is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82€13.46
$13.38CA$18.34
18.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4€54.8
$44.87CA$61.5
43.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37€8.82
$11.13CA$15.25
-6.83%
Cappuccino
$2.89€2.46
$3.78CA$5.18
-23.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23€1.90
$1.52CA$2.08
46.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.32
$1.30CA$1.78
19.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38€2.88
$5.39CA$7.39
-37.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.32
$5.29CA$7.25
-26.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12€0.96
$2.17CA$2.97
-48.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80€1.53
$2.98CA$4.08
-39.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.49
$4.45CA$6.09
-60.67%
Eggs
$3.17€2.70
$2.53CA$3.47
25.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50€11.49
$12.77CA$17.50
5.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79€6.63
$8.89CA$12.19
-12.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65€13.32
$13.86CA$18.99
12.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.94
$4.15CA$5.68
-45.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.46
$1.32CA$1.81
29.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.65
$4.13CA$5.66
-53.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.15
$4.10CA$5.61
-38.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.52
$1.84CA$2.53
-2.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05€1.74
$1.65CA$2.26
24.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.65
$2.61CA$3.58
-25.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.69
$0.84CA$1.15
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.66
$12.16CA$16.66
-45.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79€4.92
$11.04CA$15.13
-47.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.14
$3.09CA$4.23
-56.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.47
$1.97CA$2.71
47.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.00
$2.71CA$3.72
-13.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70€38.89
$56.1CA$76.8
-18.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20€3.58
$3.64CA$4.99
15.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$2.03CA$2.78
-60.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70€15.91
$30.86CA$42.28
-39.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.16CA$1.59
80.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€29.5K
$25.2KCA$34.5K
37.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.7K
$20.5KCA$28.1K
93.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€124
$86.1CA$118
69.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84€17.73
$38.78CA$53.1
-46.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78€33.85
$43.45CA$59.5
-8.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58€41.35
$32.59CA$44.65
49.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85€16.04
$14.01CA$19.20
34.55%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07€7.72
$9.55CA$13.09
-5.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618€526
$600CA$822
3.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K€13.8K
$6,285CA$8,611
157.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.0
$60.5CA$82.9
72.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54€34.50
$52.7CA$72.2
-23.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8€79.8
$97.1CA$133
-3.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€104
$129CA$177
-5.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,365
$614CA$841
161.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260€1,073
$295CA$404
327.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065€2,608
$1,308CA$1,792
134.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008€1,709
$1,089CA$1,492
84.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702€6,555
$5,853CA$8,019
31.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367€3,716
$3,609CA$4,944
21.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Saguenay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638€1,394
$2,650CA$3,630
-38.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.87
-44.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Saguenay: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $614 in Saguenay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saguenay pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $45 in Saguenay. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $340, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Saguenay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Saguenay?
Lisbon and Saguenay differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $1,320 including rent). Saguenay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Saguenay earns 62% 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 Saguenay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $614 in Saguenay. 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 Saguenay?
Childcare runs $618 in Lisbon versus $600 in Saguenay. 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 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,320 in Saguenay versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saguenay but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Saguenay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Saguenay?
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 Saguenay safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Saguenay 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 Saguenay?
Expats usually find Saguenay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.