😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,355 in San Juan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,082 in San Juan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,810 in San Juan.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 69% more expensive than in San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, San Juan1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$7.25TTD 48.85
123.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$58.2TTD 392
8.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$7.57TTD 51.0
36.33%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.79TTD 25.57
-25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.10TTD 7.40
108.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.71TTD 4.80
122.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.90TTD 12.78
78.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.90TTD 19.58
38.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$2.77TTD 18.65
-60.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.84TTD 19.12
-38.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.71TTD 18.29
-35.06%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$5.10TTD 34.39
-37.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$8.07TTD 54.4
63.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$10.39TTD 70.0
-23.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$14.11TTD 95.1
10.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$5.76TTD 38.82
-58.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.58TTD 17.37
-33.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$4.27TTD 28.81
-52.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$4.77TTD 32.16
-49.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.48TTD 9.95
18.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.66TTD 11.20
22.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.96TTD 13.22
-2.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.40TTD 9.46
-39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$5.92TTD 39.92
11.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$19.37TTD 131
-71.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.12TTD 14.32
-37.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.74TTD 18.48
8.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.05TTD 7.09
302.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.26TTD 8.51
-35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$14.93TTD 101
23.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.13TTD 7.62
84.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$34.1KTTD 229.7K
1.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$38.5KTTD 259.7K
1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$80.0TTD 539
85.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$47.34TTD 319
-56.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$61.0TTD 411
-35.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$10.11TTD 68.1
-8.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$327TTD 2,203
88.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$7,343TTD 49.5K
123.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$59.9TTD 403
71.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$38.59TTD 260
8.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$149TTD 1,003
-36.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$126TTD 852
-3.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$744TTD 5,013
119.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$440TTD 2,966
180.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$1,035TTD 6,976
199.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$753TTD 5,078
169.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
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 14, 2026
Last update for San Juan: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $744 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $58.0 in San Juan. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $378, 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 Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in San Juan?
Lisbon and San Juan differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,355 including rent). San Juan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to San Juan?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $2,032 in San Juan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in San Juan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $744 in San Juan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 42% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or San Juan?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,355 in San Juan – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,355 in San Juan versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 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.
Is Lisbon or San Juan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Juan 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 Juan?
Expats usually find San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.