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