😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $408 in San Antonio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $695 in San Antonio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $983 in San Antonio.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 442% more expensive than San Antonio, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, San Antonio is 70% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$4.45₲27.1K
257.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$26.63₲162.3K
143.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$4.69₲28.6K
124.09%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.90₲11.6K
51.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.90₲5,481
148.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.50₲3,070
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.46₲8,902
139.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.89₲11.5K
105.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.84₲5,145
35.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.00₲6,104
75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.90₲5,504
95.56%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.64₲9,995
96.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$6.69₲40.8K
101.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.24₲19.8K
144.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$6.55₲39.9K
142.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.94₲11.8K
19.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.72₲4,360
136.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.95₲5,789
111.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.63₲9,906
50.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.07₲6,542
71.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.09₲6,629
83.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.55₲3,338
250.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.56₲3,428
41.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$1.34₲8,174
393.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$8.19₲49.9K
-30.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$0.76₲4,636
80.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.45₲8,808
104.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.61₲3,702
603.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.74₲4,534
10.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$8.86₲54.0K
106.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.88₲5,365
134.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$14.5K₲88.3M
136.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$24.1K₲146.6M
63.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$42.90₲261.4K
244.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$13.74₲83.8K
49.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$14.98₲91.3K
164.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$4.97₲30.3K
84.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$161₲983.4K
280.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$3,239₲19.7M
395.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$48.94₲298.3K
113.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$30.93₲188.5K
35.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$71.0₲432.8K
32.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$52.7₲321.4K
126.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.17
-62.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for San Antonio: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in San Antonio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $148 per month, with San Antonio 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 San Antonio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and San Antonio?
Lisbon and San Antonio differ by about 442% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $408 including rent). San Antonio 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 San Antonio?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $611 in San Antonio 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 82% 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 San Antonio?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $408 in San Antonio – a 442% 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 $408 in San Antonio versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Antonio but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Antonio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and San Antonio?
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 San Antonio safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Antonio 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 San Antonio?
Expats usually find San Antonio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 442% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.