😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $778 in San Fernando.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,191 in San Fernando.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,605 in San Fernando.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 195% more expensive than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, San Fernando is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$3.58₱220
352.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$13.13₱808
382.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$2.59₱160
298.46%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.03₱63.5
174.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.45₱28.00
408.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.36₱22.43
338.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.30₱79.9
161.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$1.40₱86.0
187.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.89₱117
-42.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.25₱77.2
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.95₱58.7
85.26%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.28₱141
39.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$9.07₱558
45.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$3.79₱233
110.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$7.78₱479
99.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.64₱162
-10.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.79₱110
-4.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.30₱142
-12.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.22₱74.9
99.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.91₱117
-7.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.19₱135
-7.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.73₱45.18
163.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.64₱39.52
32.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.24₱200
103.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$8.67₱534
-35.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.03₱63.4
29.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.43₱88.3
107.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.26₱15.93
776.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$21.10₱1,299
117.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.69₱42.22
513.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.24₱14.78
237.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$1.08₱66.3
1607.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.15₱70.9
80.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$28.1K₱1.7M
23.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$24.2K₱1.5M
62.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$108₱6,646
37.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$17.53₱1,079
16.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$26.58₱1,636
48.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$30.86₱1,900
55.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$4.56₱281
307.89%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$4.52₱278
103.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$62.9₱3,875
878.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$1,913₱117.8K
759.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$34.68₱2,135
196.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$16.10₱991
159.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$54.1₱3,332
75.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$47.11₱2,900
159.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$357₱22.0K
357.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$235₱14.5K
424.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$595₱36.6K
420.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$485₱29.8K
319.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$2,155₱132.7K
263.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$1,115₱68.7K
293.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$346₱21.3K
365.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.5
-30.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for San Fernando: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $357 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 365% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $13.00 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $199 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 195% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $778 including rent). San Fernando is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or San Fernando?
Average pay runs 365% 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 San Fernando?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $357 in San Fernando. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and San Fernando?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $62.9 in San Fernando. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $778 in San Fernando versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 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 195% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.