😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,574 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,341 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,107 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 40% more expensive than Santa Maria Capua Vetere, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Santa Maria Capua Vetere17% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$11.53€9.92
37.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$57.7€49.63
12.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$11.58€9.97
-9.24%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.19€1.03
141.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.81€2.42
-20.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$1.44€1.24
4.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$3.41€2.93
2.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$5.11€4.40
-24.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.12€0.97
1.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.02€1.74
-13.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.25€1.94
-21.78%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.74€1.50
85.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$15.22€13.11
-11.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$12.44€10.71
-36.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$17.57€15.12
-9.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.55€1.33
49.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.78€1.53
-4.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.79€1.54
12.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.22€1.91
10.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.41€1.21
30.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.78€1.53
12.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.55€1.33
24.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.36€0.31
119.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$5.63€4.85
17.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$7.54€6.50
-24.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.71€1.47
-19.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.63€1.41
82.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.76€1.52
34.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
$44.18€38.03
3.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.53€3.04
21.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.03€1.75
-59.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$28.56€24.59
-35.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.99€1.71
3.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$29.0K€25.0K
18.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$27.7K€23.9K
41.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$183€158
-19.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$14.00€12.05
46.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$31.34€26.98
26.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$54.6€47.03
-12.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$23.47€20.20
-19.39%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$9.16€7.88
0.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$617€531
-0.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,203€3,618
281.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$67.9€58.5
54.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$30.77€26.49
36.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$81.5€70.1
15.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$85.8€73.9
39.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$758€653
114.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$584€503
114.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$1,198€1,031
152.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$914€787
121.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$3,159€2,719
146.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$1,985€1,709
115.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$1,266€1,090
26.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.93
-22.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Santa Maria Capua Vetere: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $758 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 27% 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 $58.0 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $290, 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Lisbon and Santa Maria Capua Vetere differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,574 including rent). Santa Maria Capua Vetere is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Lisbon pays 27% 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 Maria Capua Vetere?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $758 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. 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 Maria Capua Vetere?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $617 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,574 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Maria Capua Vetere but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Maria Capua Vetere the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
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 Maria Capua Vetere safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Santa Maria Capua Vetere 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 Maria Capua Vetere?
Expats usually find Santa Maria Capua Vetere gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.