😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $858 in San Luis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,401 in San Luis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,944 in San Luis.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 164% more expensive than San Luis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, San Luis is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$11.07ARS 15.8K
43.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$41.02ARS 58.6K
54.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$9.59ARS 13.7K
8.24%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$3.77ARS 5,388
-25.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$2.26ARS 3,230
3.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.09ARS 2,980
-24.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$1.59ARS 2,268
115.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$2.91ARS 4,160
34.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.32ARS 1,883
-18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.54ARS 2,199
14.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.98ARS 2,823
-13.64%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.20ARS 3,138
43.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$6.73ARS 9,615
103.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$4.61ARS 6,588
73.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$5.43ARS 7,763
185.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.24ARS 1,771
84.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.52ARS 2,166
7.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.52ARS 2,170
27.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$2.11ARS 3,010
18.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.02ARS 1,460
75.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.97ARS 1,390
107.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.99ARS 1,408
98.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.51ARS 721
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$2.53ARS 3,618
168.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$4.13ARS 5,898
37.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.96ARS 2,803
-29.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$3.40ARS 4,852
-11.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.58ARS 822
291.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$0.44ARS 635
875.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.98ARS 1,405
-13.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$4.93ARS 7,037
270.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.97ARS 1,390
105.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$30.9KARS 44.1M
13.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$33.7KARS 48.2M
17.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$59.4ARS 84.8K
146.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$10.73ARS 15.3K
90.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$21.94ARS 31.3K
77.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$26.09ARS 37.3K
87.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$13.57ARS 19.4K
38.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$5.52ARS 7,882
72.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$105ARS 149.8K
479.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$2,162ARS 3.1M
663.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$80.1ARS 114.4K
29.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$75.6ARS 108.0K
-44.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$137ARS 195.8K
-32.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$118ARS 168.1K
2.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$298ARS 426.1K
443.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$167ARS 238.7K
658.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$533ARS 761.3K
471.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$295ARS 421.6K
580.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$1,004ARS 1.4M
663.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$608ARS 868.2K
612.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Luis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$506ARS 722.4K
213.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
79
-95.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for San Luis: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $298 in San Luis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 213% 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 $41.00 in San Luis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $177 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 San Luis?
Lisbon and San Luis differ by about 164% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $858 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?
Lisbon pays 213% more on average, 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 San Luis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $298 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 52% 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 $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $858 in San Luis – a 164% 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 $858 in San Luis versus $2,263 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 164% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.