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: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,198 in San Fernando.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,963 in San Fernando.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,727 in San Fernando.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 89% more expensive than San Fernando, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, San Fernando is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$10.19 TTD 68.9
56.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$59.3 TTD 401
6.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$7.36 TTD 49.77
41.03%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$3.55 TTD 24.03
-21.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$1.06 TTD 7.15
120.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.75 TTD 5.06
109.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$1.89 TTD 12.77
81.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$2.46 TTD 16.63
58.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$2.07 TTD 14.01
-47.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.34 TTD 15.81
-24.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.63 TTD 17.77
-34.98%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$3.77 TTD 25.47
-16.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$7.96 TTD 53.8
71.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$10.53 TTD 71.2
-23.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$8.52 TTD 57.6
82.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$5.96 TTD 40.27
-61.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$2.58 TTD 17.48
-36.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$4.32 TTD 29.23
-55.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$4.74 TTD 32.05
-47.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.23 TTD 8.30
45.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$0.73 TTD 4.92
175.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.46 TTD 9.84
34.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.21 TTD 8.16
-30.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$5.69 TTD 38.45
19.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$17.94 TTD 121
-68.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.54 TTD 10.41
-9.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.82 TTD 19.06
7.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.42 TTD 2.86
440.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$43.75 TTD 296
3.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$0.86 TTD 5.79
398.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.91 TTD 6.16
-6.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$14.70 TTD 99.4
24.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.03 TTD 6.98
93.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$33.8K TTD 228.2K
3.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$38.4K TTD 259.8K
2.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$44.62 TTD 302
227.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$41.80 TTD 283
-51.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$45.79 TTD 310
-14.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$45.66 TTD 309
7.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$8.95 TTD 60.5
110.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$9.01 TTD 60.9
5.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$324 TTD 2,190
87.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$2,257 TTD 15.3K
631.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$44.69 TTD 302
132.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$36.57 TTD 247
15.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$89.0 TTD 602
3.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$87.7 TTD 593
36.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$550 TTD 3,720
194.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$341 TTD 2,302
272.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$952 TTD 6,436
220.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$697 TTD 4,714
188.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$2,003 TTD 13.5K
282.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$1,489 TTD 10.1K
190.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$1,031 TTD 6,971
53.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.38
-29.18%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $550 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 54% 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 $59.0 in San Fernando. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $333, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 San Fernando?
Lisbon and San Fernando differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,198 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?
Lisbon pays 54% more on average, 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 San Fernando?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $550 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $324 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,198 in San Fernando versus $2,263 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 89% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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