Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and San Fernando Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and San Fernando

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,107 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $1,783 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $2,458 in San Fernando.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 100% more expensive than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, San Fernando is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71 €13.76
$10.55 MX$184
48.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €55.1
$39.12 MX$681
60.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 €9.23
$8.05 MX$140
30.81%
Cappuccino
$2.88 €2.53
$3.33 MX$57.9
-13.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.97
$1.27 MX$22.17
77.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 €1.36
$0.96 MX$16.64
62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €2.97
$2.33 MX$40.57
45.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 €3.41
$3.95 MX$68.7
-1.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.95
$1.42 MX$24.71
-23.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 €1.51
$2.63 MX$45.69
-34.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.57 MX$27.32
12.10%
Eggs
$3.16 €2.77
$2.38 MX$41.42
32.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.64
$7.87 MX$137
68.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.87 €6.89
$7.68 MX$134
2.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.84 €13.88
$10.39 MX$181
52.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 €2.11
$2.67 MX$46.50
-10.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.49
$1.41 MX$24.52
20.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.79 MX$31.08
13.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 €2.21
$1.58 MX$27.42
59.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.63
$1.86 MX$32.32
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 €1.81
$1.99 MX$34.65
3.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 €1.75
$1.26 MX$21.94
58.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 €0.68
$0.98 MX$17.08
-20.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65 €5.82
$4.25 MX$73.9
56.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €5.06
$12.50 MX$218
-53.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.21
$1.53 MX$26.67
-9.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.64
$2.75 MX$47.80
9.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.04
$0.65 MX$11.33
258.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.45 €39.82
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.57
$2.56 MX$44.55
59.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 €0.70
$1.55 MX$26.90
-48.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.65 €16.34
$8.16 MX$142
128.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 €1.75
$1.31 MX$22.85
52.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K €31.0K
$20.9K MX$364.5K
68.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K €34.2K
$22.1K MX$383.9K
77.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 €132
$57.4 MX$999
161.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55 €18.01
$21.93 MX$382
-6.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45 €34.56
$27.98 MX$487
40.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.06 €42.11
$35.81 MX$623
34.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70 €16.38
$16.11 MX$280
16.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30 €8.15
$4.68 MX$81.4
98.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 €550
$202 MX$3,522
210.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.4K
$3,604 MX$62.7K
356.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €89.0
$52.5 MX$914
93.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55 €36.40
$39.05 MX$680
6.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.5 €81.0
$89.3 MX$1,555
3.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €107
$78.0 MX$1,356
57.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,426
$517 MX$8,996
214.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 €1,080
$405 MX$7,039
204.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,126 €2,739
$946 MX$16.5K
230.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,058 €1,803
$762 MX$13.3K
170.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,762 €6,801
$2,064 MX$35.9K
276.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,386 €3,843
$1,094 MX$19.0K
300.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,621 €1,420
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.48
-66.81%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $517 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $39.00 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $251 per month, with San Fernando 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 Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in San Fernando?
Lisbon and San Fernando differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,107 including rent). San Fernando 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 Fernando?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,661 in San Fernando 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 in San Fernando?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $517 in San Fernando. 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 7% 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 Fernando?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,107 in San Fernando – a 100% 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 $1,107 in San Fernando versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Fernando but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and San Fernando?
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 Fernando safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Fernando 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 Fernando?
Expats usually find San Fernando gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% 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

Similar cities