😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,217 in San Fernando.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,005 in San Fernando.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,794 in San Fernando.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 87% more expensive than in San Fernando, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, San Fernando is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$10.40TTD 69.8
51.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$59.1TTD 397
7.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$7.54TTD 50.6
38.59%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$3.68TTD 24.70
-20.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$1.09TTD 7.31
110.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.77TTD 5.15
94.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$1.82TTD 12.24
95.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.48TTD 16.66
59.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$2.03TTD 13.65
-46.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$2.34TTD 15.72
-24.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$2.63TTD 17.63
-35.36%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$3.83TTD 25.71
-15.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$8.09TTD 54.3
63.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$10.45TTD 70.2
-26.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$8.70TTD 58.4
81.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$5.92TTD 39.78
-61.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$2.48TTD 16.67
-33.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$4.36TTD 29.28
-53.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$4.67TTD 31.37
-47.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.24TTD 8.31
44.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$0.76TTD 5.11
172.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$1.49TTD 10.02
32.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$1.16TTD 7.82
-28.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$5.69TTD 38.18
15.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$17.35TTD 117
-67.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.52TTD 10.19
-12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.71TTD 18.19
11.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.46TTD 3.07
393.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$44.31TTD 298
4.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$0.85TTD 5.74
397.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.86TTD 5.75
-1.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$14.56TTD 97.8
29.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.99TTD 6.65
104.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$34.4KTTD 231.1K
1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$38.2KTTD 256.7K
3.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$44.86TTD 301
229.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$42.88TTD 288
-52.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$45.00TTD 302
-12.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$46.91TTD 315
2.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$8.62TTD 57.9
113.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$8.80TTD 59.1
3.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$325TTD 2,185
88.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$2,224TTD 14.9K
632.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$43.93TTD 295
131.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$36.61TTD 246
14.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$89.7TTD 603
2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$90.4TTD 607
35.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$533TTD 3,580
202.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$349TTD 2,344
259.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$976TTD 6,553
214.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$695TTD 4,667
193.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,976TTD 13.3K
292.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$1,484TTD 9,967
188.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$1,030TTD 6,915
55.54%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for San Fernando: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $533 in San Fernando. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 56% 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 $267 vs $330, 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 in San Fernando?
Lisbon and San Fernando differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,217 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 56% 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $533 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $325 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 $1,217 in San Fernando versus $2,280 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 87% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.