😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,197 in San Fernando.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,968 in San Fernando.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,740 in San Fernando.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 86% more expensive than San Fernando, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, San Fernando is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$10.30TTD 70.0
56.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$59.2TTD 402
9.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$7.54TTD 51.2
37.67%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.76TTD 25.52
-26.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.09TTD 7.37
106.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.80TTD 5.45
96.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.90TTD 12.89
83.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.47TTD 16.76
61.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$2.00TTD 13.56
-46.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$2.32TTD 15.74
-25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$2.57TTD 17.44
-32.30%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$3.77TTD 25.58
-15.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.07TTD 54.8
66.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$10.36TTD 70.3
-22.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$8.47TTD 57.5
89.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$5.81TTD 39.45
-60.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.55TTD 17.30
-32.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$4.29TTD 29.10
-54.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$4.63TTD 31.46
-45.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.23TTD 8.33
48.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.77TTD 5.23
164.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.46TTD 9.90
35.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.21TTD 8.22
-29.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$5.52TTD 37.49
24.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$17.74TTD 120
-67.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.50TTD 10.20
-8.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.73TTD 18.54
6.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.42TTD 2.86
442.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$44.18TTD 300
6.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.92TTD 6.23
343.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.92TTD 6.24
-10.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$14.79TTD 100
23.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.03TTD 7.00
95.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$34.2KTTD 232.4K
3.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$38.8KTTD 263.7K
-0.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$45.18TTD 307
221.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$42.01TTD 285
-50.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$46.20TTD 314
-13.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$45.57TTD 309
7.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$8.82TTD 59.9
111.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$9.12TTD 61.9
-0.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$326TTD 2,212
86.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$2,226TTD 15.1K
633.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$45.00TTD 306
132.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$36.74TTD 249
11.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$88.3TTD 600
5.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$89.8TTD 610
31.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$532TTD 3,610
201.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$348TTD 2,365
254.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$977TTD 6,636
211.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$699TTD 4,749
194.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$2,016TTD 13.7K
282.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,497TTD 10.2K
185.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$1,009TTD 6,850
57.03%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for San Fernando: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $532 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 57% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $59.0 in San Fernando. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $329, 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 86% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,197 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 57% 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $532 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $326 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 21% 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 $1,197 in San Fernando versus $2,227 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 86% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.