Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and San Ignacio Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and San Ignacio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $712 in San Ignacio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $888 in San Ignacio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,065 in San Ignacio.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 211% more expensive than San Ignacio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, San Ignacio is 47% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

$15.14 BZD 30.29

5.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

$44.68 BZD 89.4

44.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 €1.93

$1.03 BZD 2.06

117.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

$0.98 BZD 1.96

53.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

$3.09 BZD 6.17

12.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

$4.07 BZD 8.13

-4.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

$3.01 BZD 6.03

-62.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

$2.43 BZD 4.85

-27.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$4.82 BZD 9.64

-33.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

$15.15 BZD 30.31

-10.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

$3.96 BZD 7.93

99.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

$4.89 BZD 9.79

-52.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

$3.04 BZD 6.09

-19.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

$1.49 BZD 2.97

23.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

$1.51 BZD 3.03

32.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

$1.02 BZD 2.03

-22.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

$1.52 BZD 3.04

-9.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

$2.02 BZD 4.05

17.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.3K €29.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K €33.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €127

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

$604 BZD 1,208

169.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

$346 BZD 692

262.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

$991 BZD 1,983

61.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for San Ignacio: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $604 in San Ignacio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 62% 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 $45.00 in San Ignacio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $206 per month, with San Ignacio 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 Ignacio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and San Ignacio differ by about 211% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $712 including rent). San Ignacio is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $604 in San Ignacio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in San Ignacio – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $712 in San Ignacio – a 211% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $712 in San Ignacio versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Ignacio but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Ignacio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Ignacio are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find San Ignacio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 211% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.