😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $126 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $194 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $261 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 1678% more expensive than Santa Cruz del Seibo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Santa Cruz del Seibo is 91% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$9.98DOP 601
57.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
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-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$5.06DOP 304
103.95%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$1.94DOP 117
44.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$0.98DOP 59.1
137.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.51DOP 31.00
196.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
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-
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
-
-
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
-
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🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
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
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
-
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
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-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
-
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
-
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
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
-
-
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
-
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Santa Cruz del Seibo: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $0 in Santa Cruz del Seibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $0 in Santa Cruz del Seibo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $0 per month, with Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 Santa Cruz del Seibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Lisbon and Santa Cruz del Seibo differ by about 1678% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $126 including rent). Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 Santa Cruz del Seibo?
You'd need roughly $3,365 in Lisbon and $189 in Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $126 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz del Seibo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz del Seibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Santa Cruz del Seibo?
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 Santa Cruz del Seibo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Expats usually find Santa Cruz del Seibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1678% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.