🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,890 in Saint Croix.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $5,054 in Saint Croix.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $7,218 in Saint Croix.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 22% less than in Saint Croix, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Saint Croix115% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.82
$40.43$40.43
-60.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.9
$138$138
-53.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€9.00
$9.96$9.96
4.22%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.42
$7.68$7.68
-63.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$3.20$3.20
-26.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.36
$2.47$2.47
-36.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$5.01$5.01
-31.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.39
$5.95$5.95
-34.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$3.18$3.18
-66.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.53
$5.57$5.57
-68.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$7.17$7.17
-76.15%
Eggs
$3.15€2.73
$7.34$7.34
-57.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.86
$15.86$15.86
-13.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.94
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.45
$19.80$19.80
-21.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.99
$7.99$7.99
-71.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$2.32$2.32
-29.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$4.44$4.44
-56.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$6.64$6.64
-62.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$3.68$3.68
-51.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$4.50$4.50
-55.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$4.34$4.34
-54.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$3.10$3.10
-72.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.88
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.92
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.61
$6.08$6.08
-50.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.38
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$1.53$1.53
-44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.84
$14.96$14.96
22.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.72
$1.26$1.26
57.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.4K
$34.7K$34.7K
1.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.3K
$45.2K$45.2K
-12.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€127
$333$333
-56.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.72
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.78
$95.8$95.8
-59.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.46
$112$112
-56.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.32
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.25
$12.92$12.92
-26.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€527
$1,066$1,066
-42.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.3K
$10.8K$10.8K
53.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.0
$49.96$49.96
107.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.50
$25.28$25.28
66.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.9
$92.0$92.0
0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$99.8$99.8
20.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,405
$1,700$1,700
-4.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,099
$1,176$1,176
7.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,642
$2,849$2,849
7.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,741
$3,493$3,493
-42.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,641
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,752
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Saint Croix
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,374
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.65
-32.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Saint Croix: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $1,700 in Saint Croix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $138 in Saint Croix for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $444 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 Saint Croix: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Saint Croix?
Lisbon and Saint Croix differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $2,890 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Saint Croix?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $4,335 in Saint Croix to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Saint Croix?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,700 in Saint Croix. 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 65% higher in Saint Croix. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Saint Croix?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $2,890 in Saint Croix – a 28% 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 $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,890 in Saint Croix, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Saint Croix. 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 Saint Croix?
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 Saint Croix safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Saint Croix. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.