😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,422 in San Lorenzo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,101 in San Lorenzo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $2,780 in San Lorenzo.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 58% more expensive than San Lorenzo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon67% above, San Lorenzo6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$11.90$11.90
32.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$81.4$81.4
-22.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$9.61$9.61
7.39%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$3.52$3.52
-20.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$1.77$1.77
31.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$1.45$1.45
4.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$3.02$3.02
11.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$4.45$4.45
-12.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$2.43$2.43
-55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$3.53$3.53
-50.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$2.27$2.27
-22.91%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$6.03$6.03
-48.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$8.64$8.64
53.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$8.65$8.65
-9.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$12.85$12.85
24.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$5.99$5.99
-60.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$2.64$2.64
-34.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$3.86$3.86
-48.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$4.12$4.12
-38.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$3.86$3.86
-53.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.90$2.90
-32.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$3.10$3.10
-36.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$1.99$1.99
-57.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$12.01$12.01
-43.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$15.72$15.72
-62.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$2.49$2.49
-44.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$3.16$3.16
-7.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$1.46$1.46
-44.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$14.95$14.95
26.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$1.00$1.00
109.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$36.5K$36.5K
-3.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$26.5K$26.5K
49.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$478$478
-68.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$78.9$78.9
-74.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$74.1$74.1
-47.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$11.76$11.76
-21.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$464$464
34.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$10.2K$10.2K
55.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$45.86$45.86
122.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$55.7$55.7
-26.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$90.2$90.2
6.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$106$106
13.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$1,800$1,800
69.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Lorenzo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.71
-33.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for San Lorenzo: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $0 in San Lorenzo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $81 in San Lorenzo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $386 per month, with Lisbon 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 Lorenzo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and San Lorenzo?
Lisbon and San Lorenzo differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $1,422 including rent). San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo?
You'd need roughly $3,365 in Lisbon and $2,132 in San Lorenzo 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 43% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or San Lorenzo?
All in, you'll spend $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $1,422 in San Lorenzo – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,422 in San Lorenzo versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Lorenzo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Lorenzo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and San Lorenzo?
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 Lorenzo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo?
Expats usually find San Lorenzo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.