😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $849 in Santa Cruz do Sul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,352 in Santa Cruz do Sul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,856 in Santa Cruz do Sul.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 162% more expensive than Santa Cruz do Sul, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Santa Cruz do Sul is 37% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.81
$4.41R$21.97
266.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.1
$26.64R$133
142.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.86
$4.56R$22.69
127.63%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.58R$7.85
75.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.16R$5.80
93.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.34
$0.78R$3.87
101.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.98
$2.10R$10.45
66.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.42
$2.69R$13.39
48.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.90R$4.46
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.40R$6.96
24.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.48
$1.08R$5.39
61.11%
Eggs
$3.18€2.71
$2.14R$10.64
48.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.47
$10.74R$53.5
25.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.83
$4.62R$22.99
72.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.74
$9.54R$47.51
68.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.07R$10.29
10.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.31R$6.55
31.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.27R$6.33
52.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.17
$1.47R$7.32
72.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.56
$1.14R$5.69
60.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.74
$1.03R$5.13
98.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.72R$3.59
175.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.57R$2.86
49.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.85
$2.00R$9.94
242.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.93
$8.02R$39.95
-27.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.02R$5.09
34.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.86R$9.25
55.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.87R$4.31
162.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.00
$39.05R$194
19.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.48
$1.64R$8.17
148.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.01R$5.05
-18.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.60
$5.44R$27.09
235.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.71
$1.10R$5.50
82.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.1K
$23.9KR$118.9K
47.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$27.8KR$138.3K
38.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$59.9R$298
142.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.90
$14.72R$73.3
42.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.21
$19.66R$97.9
103.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.66
$22.26R$111
119.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€15.97
$21.66R$108
-13.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.74
$6.48R$32.27
39.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€518
$310R$1,544
95.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€13.9K
$7,190R$35.8K
127.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.4
$48.92R$244
113.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€34.97
$56.2R$280
-27.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€79.9
$79.2R$395
18.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$61.8R$308
91.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,370
$507R$2,523
216.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,055
$275R$1,371
348.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,601
$858R$4,275
254.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,756
$573R$2,855
258.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,583
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,644
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Santa Cruz do Sul
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,353
$405R$2,015
291.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10
-61.90%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Santa Cruz do Sul: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $507 in Santa Cruz do Sul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 291% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in Santa Cruz do Sul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $191 per month, with Santa Cruz do Sul cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Santa Cruz do Sul: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Santa Cruz do Sul?
Lisbon and Santa Cruz do Sul differ by about 162% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $849 including rent). Santa Cruz do Sul is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Santa Cruz do Sul?
Lisbon pays 291% 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 Santa Cruz do Sul?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $507 in Santa Cruz do Sul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Santa Cruz do Sul?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $310 in Santa Cruz do Sul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $849 in Santa Cruz do Sul versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz do Sul but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz do Sul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Santa Cruz do Sul?
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 do Sul safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Santa Cruz do Sul 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 do Sul?
Expats usually find Santa Cruz do Sul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 162% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.