😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $700 in San Fernando.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,045 in San Fernando.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,391 in San Fernando.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 228% more expensive than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, San Fernando is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.31
$3.88₱244
353.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.7
$16.54₱1,039
280.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.08
$2.88₱181
302.08%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.85₱116
67.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.39₱24.32
538.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.31₱19.29
461.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.02₱64.3
241.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$1.30₱82.0
164.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.66₱104
-30.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.16₱73.0
64.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$0.91₱56.9
64.84%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.98₱125
101.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.57
$5.22₱328
154.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.97
$3.45₱217
132.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.70
$7.78₱489
131.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.29₱144
2.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.29₱81.3
35.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$2.34₱147
-20.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.07₱67.4
138.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$1.68₱106
9.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.60₱101
31.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$0.67₱41.88
122.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.53₱33.30
54.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$2.88₱181
146.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$8.82₱554
-32.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$0.90₱56.4
45.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.29₱81.3
65.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.27₱16.68
774.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.57
$11.28₱709
313.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.66₱41.65
518.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.23₱14.41
395.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.88
$0.94₱58.9
1718.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.98₱61.8
135.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$21.0K₱1.3M
62.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$19.3K₱1.2M
114.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$143₱8,972
18.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.83
$17.75₱1,115
8.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.17
$23.63₱1,485
41.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.51
$31.58₱1,984
54.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.92
$4.85₱305
300.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$4.91₱308
94.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$78.2₱4,910
790.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$1,130₱71.0K
1435.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$19.26₱1,210
446.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.56
$15.83₱994
201.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$31.40₱1,973
220.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$47.12₱2,960
164.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,446
$264₱16.6K
529.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
$172₱10.8K
625.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,580
$495₱31.1K
499.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,783
$353₱22.2K
479.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,819
$2,815₱176.8K
178.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,886
$1,052₱66.1K
324.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,420
$334₱21.0K
388.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6
-37.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for San Fernando: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $264 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 389% 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 $17.00 in San Fernando for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $172 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 228% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $700 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 389% 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: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $264 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $78.2 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 61% 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 $700 in San Fernando versus $2,296 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 228% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.