Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and San Juan, Philippines

For one person, living is cheaper in San Juan: $727 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
San Juan, Philippines
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
San Juan
🇵🇭 Philippines
$727
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in San Juan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in San Juan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $727 in San Juan.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • San Juan $727

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $1,099 in San Juan.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • San Juan $1,099

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $1,471 in San Juan.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • San Juan $1,471

Living in Lisbon is roughly 204% more expensive than in San Juan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, San Juan is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.92
$4.00 ₱255
316.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$16.19 ₱1,031
281.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.18
$2.80 ₱178
305.71%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$2.61 ₱166
13.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$0.61 ₱38.76
275.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$0.33 ₱21.30
427.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$1.01 ₱64.2
236.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$1.54 ₱98.2
114.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.67 ₱106
-30.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$1.13 ₱72.3
69.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$0.91 ₱58.1
65.93%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$1.77 ₱113
127.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$4.98 ₱317
159.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.97
$3.31 ₱211
134.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.92
$6.98 ₱445
154.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$2.20 ₱140
4.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$1.40 ₱88.9
23.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.27 ₱145
-18.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$1.00 ₱63.9
159.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$1.73 ₱110
5.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$1.69 ₱108
16.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$0.60 ₱38.16
145.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.89 ₱56.4
-19.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$2.70 ₱172
143.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$7.51 ₱479
-25.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$0.93 ₱59.5
46.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$1.74 ₱111
22.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$0.25 ₱15.91
832.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.04
$11.48 ₱731
289.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$0.75 ₱47.54
413.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.21 ₱13.36
409.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.75
$1.87 ₱119
780.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$1.17 ₱74.5
88.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$21.0K ₱1.3M
62.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$19.2K ₱1.2M
102.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$136 ₱8,678
18.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.50
$14.17 ₱902
29.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.34
$23.95 ₱1,525
36.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.92
$27.03 ₱1,722
64.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.11
$5.16 ₱329
270.16%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$5.01 ₱319
91.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$70.3 ₱4,480
849.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$2,442 ₱155.5K
621.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$28.72 ₱1,829
255.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.85
$19.22 ₱1,224
131.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.3
$71.0 ₱4,520
38.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$55.3 ₱3,521
123.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,441
$269 ₱17.1K
498.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$170 ₱10.8K
600.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,520
$493 ₱31.4K
470.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,804
$357 ₱22.7K
463.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,025
$2,304 ₱146.8K
240.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,100
$1,186 ₱75.5K
285.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
$235 ₱15.0K
569.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.75
-42.96%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for San Juan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
San Juan
$170 85.7% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
San Juan
$169 37.8% $103
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
San Juan
$84 65.5% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
San Juan
$174 17.9% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
San Juan
$78 52.8% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
San Juan
$37 41.9% $27
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
San Juan
$14 77.4% $49

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $269 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays about 6.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $16 in San Juan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $169 per month, with San Juan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇵🇭 San Juan
🕒 Local time
01:47 1:47 AM
09:47 9:47 AM
8 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
126,347
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.69 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.12 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon San Juan 12,150 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • San Juan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in San Juan?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $727 in San Juan, so San Juan is about 67% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or San Juan?
Average pay in Lisbon is about 6.7 times higher, 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 Juan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $269 in San Juan. 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 Juan?
Childcare runs $668 in Lisbon versus $70 in San Juan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $727 in San Juan versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,200 budget is realistic in San Juan but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Juan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and San Juan?
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.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or San Juan?
Expats usually find San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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