Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and San Pedro Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and San Pedro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,610 in San Pedro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,440 in San Pedro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,269 in San Pedro.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 42% more expensive than in San Pedro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, San Pedro 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$10.96 ₡4,904
47.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$58.7 ₡26.2K
7.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$9.91 ₡4,434
4.14%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$3.73 ₡1,667
-24.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$2.05 ₡918
11.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.63 ₡731
-3.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$3.03 ₡1,357
12.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$4.76 ₡2,129
-15.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.97 ₡880
-44.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.84 ₡1,271
-38.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.18 ₡975
-19.27%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.95 ₡1,319
7.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$10.03 ₡4,487
31.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$8.95 ₡4,004
-10.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$13.56 ₡6,066
14.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$4.45 ₡1,992
-46.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.51 ₡676
13.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$4.38 ₡1,958
-54.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$3.43 ₡1,533
-29.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.53 ₡1,581
-50.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$3.25 ₡1,455
-37.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.01 ₡451
90.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$2.91 ₡1,302
-70.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$5.29 ₡2,368
24.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$22.20 ₡9,931
-74.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$2.53 ₡1,134
-47.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$2.93 ₡1,310
1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.95 ₡423
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$1.88 ₡843
125.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.84 ₡824
-55.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$8.05 ₡3,603
129.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.42 ₡634
46.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$37.7K ₡16.9M
-8.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$33.1K ₡14.8M
18.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$92.3 ₡41.3K
60.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$26.24 ₡11.7K
-22.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$59.3 ₡26.5K
-33.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$57.9 ₡25.9K
-17.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$24.34 ₡10.9K
-23.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$9.81 ₡4,391
-6.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$576 ₡257.8K
6.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$12.5K ₡5.6M
31.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$63.6 ₡28.5K
61.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$51.5 ₡23.0K
-18.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$128 ₡57.3K
-26.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$105 ₡47.1K
15.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$760 ₡339.8K
114.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$604 ₡270.3K
103.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$1,504 ₡672.8K
106.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$945 ₡422.9K
114.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
San Pedro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
10.17
-62.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for San Pedro: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $760 in San Pedro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $59.0 in San Pedro. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $369, 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 Pedro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in San Pedro?
Lisbon and San Pedro differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,610 including rent). San Pedro 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 Pedro?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $2,415 in San Pedro 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 Pedro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $760 in San Pedro. 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 38% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or San Pedro?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,610 in San Pedro – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,610 in San Pedro versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in San Pedro but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Pedro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and San Pedro?
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 Pedro safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and San Pedro 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 Pedro?
Expats usually find San Pedro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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