😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $981 in Santa Rosa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,592 in Santa Rosa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,203 in Santa Rosa.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 127% more expensive than Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Santa Rosa is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$10.42ARS 14.5K
55.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$33.83ARS 47.2K
90.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$9.01ARS 12.6K
15.21%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.76ARS 3,848
0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.69ARS 2,363
33.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.55ARS 2,163
1.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.06ARS 2,875
69.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.96ARS 4,123
35.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.29ARS 1,802
-16.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.58ARS 2,201
10.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$2.00ARS 2,795
-13.00%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.20ARS 3,065
44.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$10.14ARS 14.2K
32.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$6.28ARS 8,756
27.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$9.64ARS 13.5K
66.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.98ARS 2,760
15.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.07ARS 2,891
-16.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.32ARS 1,840
46.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$2.53ARS 3,533
0.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.18ARS 1,649
55.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.25ARS 1,745
63.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.31ARS 1,824
51.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.43ARS 1,997
-40.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$3.05ARS 4,252
124.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$5.52ARS 7,705
4.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.09ARS 2,912
-34.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$3.02ARS 4,212
-3.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.76ARS 1,065
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.47ARS 2,052
177.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.92ARS 1,285
-10.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$6.07ARS 8,472
200.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.07ARS 1,493
87.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$27.0KARS 37.7M
30.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$30.6KARS 42.7M
25.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$67.7ARS 94.4K
114.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$17.20ARS 24.0K
21.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$22.64ARS 31.6K
76.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$25.77ARS 36.0K
89.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$13.72ARS 19.1K
36.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$6.13ARS 8,556
47.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$218ARS 303.9K
178.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$2,748ARS 3.8M
494.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$72.9ARS 101.7K
43.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$68.4ARS 95.4K
-40.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$115ARS 160.0K
-18.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$111ARS 154.7K
6.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$335ARS 467.3K
378.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$241ARS 336.4K
412.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$692ARS 966.2K
339.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$532ARS 742.4K
286.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$2,130ARS 3.0M
261.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
58.5
-93.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Santa Rosa: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $335 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Santa Rosa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $232 per month, with Santa Rosa 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 Rosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Santa Rosa?
Lisbon and Santa Rosa differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $981 including rent). Santa Rosa 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 Rosa?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,472 in Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $335 in Santa Rosa. 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 16% 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 Santa Rosa?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $981 in Santa Rosa – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $981 in Santa Rosa versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Rosa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Rosa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Santa Rosa?
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 Rosa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Santa Rosa 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 Rosa?
Expats usually find Santa Rosa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.