Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Salto

For one person, living is cheaper in Salto: $1,327 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Salto
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,327
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Salto

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 Salto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $1,327 in Salto.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Salto $1,327

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $1,946 in Salto.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Salto $1,946

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $2,565 in Salto.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Salto $2,565

Living in Lisbon is roughly 68% more expensive than in Salto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Salto is 2% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$16.15 UYU 648
2.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$36.91 UYU 1,481
65.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$11.70 UYU 470
-3.68%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$3.34 UYU 134
-8.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.16 UYU 86.7
4.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$1.60 UYU 64.2
8.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$4.43 UYU 178
-23.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$3.03 UYU 122
12.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.40 UYU 56.1
-20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$2.15 UYU 86.5
-13.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$1.51 UYU 60.6
1.32%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$5.15 UYU 207
-23.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$14.85 UYU 596
-14.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$8.59 UYU 345
-8.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$10.20 UYU 410
66.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.22 UYU 49.03
86.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$2.26 UYU 90.6
-22.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.20 UYU 48.25
54.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$1.87 UYU 75.0
37.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$0.84 UYU 33.76
121.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.70 UYU 68.4
18.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$0.95 UYU 38.05
51.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$1.52 UYU 61.1
-46.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$5.13 UYU 206
27.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$7.43 UYU 298
-24.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$1.87 UYU 75.1
-31.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.68 UYU 108
-22.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$0.64 UYU 25.63
267.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$30.03 UYU 1,205
47.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$3.80 UYU 152
-71.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.89 UYU 76.0
20.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$200 UYU 8,024
-16.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$21.57 UYU 866
-12.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$30.06 UYU 1,207
10.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$35.99 UYU 1,445
27.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$12.49 UYU 501
53.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$10.07 UYU 404
-2.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$4,494 UYU 180.4K
276.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$88.6 UYU 3,557
14.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$56.0 UYU 2,246
-18.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$113 UYU 4,525
-11.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$66.1 UYU 2,652
85.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$444 UYU 17.8K
263.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$303 UYU 12.2K
295.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$738 UYU 29.6K
287.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$423 UYU 17.0K
370.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Salto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
$612 UYU 24.6K
159.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
0
-

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Salto: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Salto
$303 74.7% $894
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Salto
$272 0.8% $2.3
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Salto
$248 2.2% $5.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Salto
$252 14.7% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Salto
$146 12.5% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Salto
$56 14.5% $9.5
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Salto
$52 * 18.1% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $444 in Salto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 159% 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: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $37.00 in Salto. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $272, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇾 Salto
🕒 Local time
12:36 12:36 PM
08:36 8:36 AM
4 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
104,028
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 40.14 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.12 UYU (100 UYU = 2.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Salto 9,290 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Salto

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

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 Salto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Salto?
Lisbon and Salto differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($2,223 vs $1,327 including rent). Salto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Salto?
Average pay runs 159% 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 Salto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $444 in Salto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Salto?
All in, you'll spend $2,223 per month in Lisbon versus $1,327 in Salto – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,327 in Salto versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Salto but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Salto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Salto?
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 Salto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Salto 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 Salto?
Expats usually find Salto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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