😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $595 in San Antonio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $991 in San Antonio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,387 in San Antonio.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 286% more expensive than in San Antonio, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, San Antonio is 56% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.24
$7.05₲41.9K
149.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.5
$42.34₲251.9K
48.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.04
$6.72₲40.0K
72.32%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.69
$3.26₲19.4K
-4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.16
$1.04₲6,214
139.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.51
$0.62₲3,694
180.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.02
$1.92₲11.4K
81.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.98
$1.87₲11.1K
83.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€0.99
$1.26₲7,493
-8.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.65
$1.46₲8,708
30.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.30
$1.34₲7,961
11.94%
Eggs
$3.98€3.45
$2.37₲14.1K
67.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.52
$9.50₲56.5K
39.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.94
$4.94₲29.4K
62.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.64
$9.90₲58.9K
82.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$2.91₲17.3K
-19.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.24₲7,397
41.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.16₲6,874
59.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.21
$2.27₲13.5K
12.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.29₲7,696
42.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.82
$1.26₲7,497
66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$0.84₲4,986
77.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.68₲4,028
20.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.15
$2.23₲13.3K
218.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.12
$8.67₲51.6K
-31.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$1.34₲7,983
-2.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.85
$1.66₲9,860
28.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.40
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.53
$1.46₲8,706
179.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.46₲8,688
-21.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.81
$10.25₲61.0K
66.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.00
$1.20₲7,118
92.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.6K
$16.8K₲100.2M
102.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.9K
$34.0K₲202.0M
21.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€146
$48.70₲289.8K
246.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.75
$16.61₲98.9K
16.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.04
$21.00₲125.0K
59.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.32
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.84
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.29
$8.45₲50.3K
13.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€603
$176₲1.0M
294.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.0K
$5,741₲34.2M
202.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.3
$61.9₲368.4K
70.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.38
$55.9₲332.3K
-14.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.1
$103₲610.9K
-2.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$68.7₲408.9K
81.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,440
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,080
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,569
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,775
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,789
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,869
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Antonio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,414
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
10.15
-62.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for San Antonio: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $42.00 in San Antonio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $208 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 in San Antonio?
Lisbon and San Antonio differ by about 286% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $595 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 $3,444 in Lisbon and $893 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 33% 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 $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $595 in San Antonio – a 286% 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 $595 in San Antonio versus $2,296 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 286% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.