😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,026 in San Luis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,729 in San Luis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,433 in San Luis.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 124% more expensive than in San Luis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, San Luis is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$8.64ARS 13.1K
103.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$49.14ARS 74.3K
27.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$8.23ARS 12.5K
40.70%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.16ARS 3,267
43.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.37ARS 3,578
5.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.89ARS 2,860
-7.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.43ARS 3,670
43.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.77ARS 4,181
24.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.34ARS 2,027
-14.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.94ARS 2,935
-1.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.06ARS 1,599
41.51%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$2.96ARS 4,472
34.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$6.75ARS 10.2K
96.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$4.59ARS 6,941
74.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$5.39ARS 8,150
234.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.27ARS 1,920
85.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.16ARS 3,271
-18.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.30ARS 1,962
42.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$3.21ARS 4,859
-20.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.02ARS 1,539
80.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.50ARS 2,265
40.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$2.02ARS 3,060
-26.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.54ARS 824
51.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$2.82ARS 4,260
151.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$4.14ARS 6,262
42.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.71ARS 2,584
-23.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.93ARS 4,429
-27.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.59ARS 891
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.62ARS 944
558.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.03ARS 1,554
10.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$4.99ARS 7,550
242.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.22ARS 1,844
89.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$26.7KARS 40.3M
28.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$33.5KARS 50.7M
23.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$49.38ARS 74.7K
241.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$13.63ARS 20.6K
41.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$23.53ARS 35.6K
42.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$31.17ARS 47.1K
56.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$34.24ARS 51.8K
-43.25%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$5.33ARS 8,063
79.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$173ARS 261.3K
302.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$4,159ARS 6.3M
317.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$117ARS 176.4K
-9.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$126ARS 190.6K
-62.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$137ARS 206.8K
-26.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$124ARS 187.4K
0.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$481ARS 726.8K
245.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$314ARS 474.8K
296.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$942ARS 1.4M
214.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$740ARS 1.1M
177.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$502ARS 759.2K
224.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
59
-93.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for San Luis: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $481 in San Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 225% 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 $49.00 in San Luis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $192 per month, with San Luis 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 Luis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in San Luis?
Lisbon and San Luis differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,026 including rent). San Luis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or San Luis?
Average pay runs 225% 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 Luis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $481 in San Luis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or San Luis?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $1,026 in San Luis – a 124% 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 $1,026 in San Luis versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Luis but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Luis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and San Luis?
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 Luis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Luis 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 Luis?
Expats usually find San Luis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.