Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Saint-Louis Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Saint-Louis

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $808 in Saint-Louis.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,294 in Saint-Louis.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,780 in Saint-Louis.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 176% more expensive than Saint-Louis, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Saint-Louis is 40% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.81
$3.49 F CFA 1,953
363.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.1
$53.3 F CFA 29.9K
21.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.86
$10.40 F CFA 5,829
-0.19%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$4.54 F CFA 2,544
-38.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$0.86 F CFA 481
161.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.34
$1.08 F CFA 608
45.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.98
$1.77 F CFA 992
97.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.42
$4.35 F CFA 2,434
-8.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$2.54 F CFA 1,423
-57.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$0.25 F CFA 139
596.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.48
$1.66 F CFA 933
4.82%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.71
$2.70 F CFA 1,512
17.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.47
$12.45 F CFA 6,975
7.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.83
$9.20 F CFA 5,153
-13.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.74
$10.95 F CFA 6,135
46.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.82 F CFA 1,579
-19.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.47
$1.91 F CFA 1,070
-9.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.64 F CFA 1,479
-26.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.17
$2.12 F CFA 1,190
19.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.56
$1.48 F CFA 830
23.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.74
$1.30 F CFA 727
56.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$1.02 F CFA 572
94.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.74 F CFA 413
14.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.85
$1.63 F CFA 913
320.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.93
$14.90 F CFA 8,348
-61.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.17 F CFA 656
17.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$2.35 F CFA 1,314
23.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.00
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.48
$0.92 F CFA 515
343.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.83 F CFA 1,588
-71.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.60
$17.66 F CFA 9,893
3.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.71
$1.77 F CFA 990
13.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.1K
$37.3K F CFA 20.9M
-5.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$50.1K F CFA 28.1M
-23.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$137 F CFA 76.6K
6.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.90
$9.46 F CFA 5,298
121.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.21
$48.92 F CFA 27.4K
-18.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.66
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €15.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.74
$9.06 F CFA 5,073
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €518
$267 F CFA 149.4K
127.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €13.9K
$7,192 F CFA 4.0M
127.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.4
$69.6 F CFA 39.0K
50.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €34.97
$43.88 F CFA 24.6K
-6.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €79.9
$102 F CFA 57.4K
-8.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$130 F CFA 72.6K
-8.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,370
$440 F CFA 246.4K
264.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,055
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,601
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,756
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,583
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,644
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Saint-Louis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,353
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8.25
-53.82%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Saint-Louis: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $440 in Saint-Louis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65 in Lisbon vs $53 in Saint-Louis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $269 per month, with Saint-Louis 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-Louis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Saint-Louis?
Lisbon and Saint-Louis differ by about 176% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $808 including rent). Saint-Louis 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-Louis?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,212 in Saint-Louis 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-Louis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $440 in Saint-Louis. 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 1% 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 Saint-Louis?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $808 in Saint-Louis – a 176% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $808 in Saint-Louis versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saint-Louis but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Saint-Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Saint-Louis?
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-Louis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Saint-Louis 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-Louis?
Expats usually find Saint-Louis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 176% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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