😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $822 in San Pablo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,237 in San Pablo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,651 in San Pablo.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 179% more expensive than in San Pablo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, San Pablo is 38% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$4.75₱293
240.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$14.00₱863
352.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$3.14₱194
228.66%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.98₱184
-5.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.43₱26.21
432.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.28₱17.27
464.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$0.70₱42.90
385.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.17₱134
85.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.69₱104
-35.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.81₱49.95
116.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.74₱45.90
137.84%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.99₱123
59.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$5.26₱324
150.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$3.86₱238
106.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$7.19₱443
115.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$4.51₱278
-47.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.07₱66.0
59.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.37₱146
-15.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.63₱100
49.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.44₱88.6
22.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.03₱63.6
97.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.90₱55.8
113.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.59₱36.55
44.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.53₱156
160.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$6.49₱400
-14.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.13₱69.8
17.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.97₱122
50.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.28₱17.47
714.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.84₱51.7
403.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.24₱14.82
237.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$2.19₱135
742.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.15₱70.8
80.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$25.4K₱1.6M
36.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$20.4K₱1.3M
91.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$166₱10.3K
-10.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$32.55₱2,008
-37.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$30.25₱1,866
30.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$34.57₱2,132
38.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$6.95₱428
32.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$82.6₱5,093
646.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$2,817₱173.7K
483.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$17.59₱1,085
483.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$29.42₱1,815
41.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$99.1₱6,113
-4.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$93.1₱5,739
31.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$122₱7,530
1237.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$175₱10.8K
605.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$579₱35.7K
435.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$394₱24.3K
415.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Pablo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$295₱18.2K
445.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
8.13
-53.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for San Pablo: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $122 in San Pablo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 445% 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 $14.00 in San Pablo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $179 per month, with San Pablo 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 Pablo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in San Pablo?
Lisbon and San Pablo differ by about 179% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $822 including rent). San Pablo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or San Pablo?
Average pay runs 445% 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 Pablo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $122 in San Pablo. 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 49% 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 Pablo?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $822 in San Pablo – a 179% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $822 in San Pablo versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Pablo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Pablo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and San Pablo?
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 Pablo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Pablo 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 Pablo?
Expats usually find San Pablo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 179% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.