😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $958 in Santa Rosa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,572 in Santa Rosa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,186 in Santa Rosa.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 136% more expensive than Santa Rosa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Santa Rosa is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$10.57ARS 15.1K
50.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$33.14ARS 47.3K
91.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$8.82ARS 12.6K
17.69%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.78ARS 3,969
0.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.71ARS 2,449
36.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.48ARS 2,118
6.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$2.08ARS 2,964
64.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$3.02ARS 4,316
29.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.25ARS 1,788
-13.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.55ARS 2,218
14.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.95ARS 2,785
-12.31%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.25ARS 3,217
40.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$10.20ARS 14.6K
34.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$6.03ARS 8,615
32.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$9.50ARS 13.6K
63.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.94ARS 2,776
18.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.06ARS 2,937
-20.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.32ARS 1,886
46.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$2.53ARS 3,620
-0.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.18ARS 1,684
51.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.20ARS 1,711
67.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.32ARS 1,891
49.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.49ARS 2,131
-43.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$3.08ARS 4,401
120.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$4.50ARS 6,422
26.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.05ARS 2,921
-32.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$3.18ARS 4,543
-5.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.78ARS 1,120
191.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$1.52ARS 2,170
182.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.92ARS 1,320
-7.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$6.13ARS 8,752
198.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.06ARS 1,508
87.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$27.2KARS 38.9M
28.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$30.8KARS 44.0M
28.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$66.2ARS 94.5K
120.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$17.37ARS 24.8K
17.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$22.56ARS 32.2K
72.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$26.37ARS 37.7K
85.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$13.91ARS 19.9K
35.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$6.14ARS 8,768
55.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$219ARS 313.5K
177.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$2,700ARS 3.9M
511.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$74.5ARS 106.5K
39.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$69.2ARS 98.8K
-39.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$113ARS 161.1K
-18.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$111ARS 159.2K
7.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$332ARS 474.2K
388.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$241ARS 344.3K
425.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$693ARS 990.2K
339.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$537ARS 767.7K
273.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$1,808ARS 2.6M
323.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Santa Rosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Santa Rosa: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $332 in Santa Rosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Santa Rosa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $229 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 136% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $958 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 $3,394 in Lisbon and $1,437 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $332 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 18% 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 $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $958 in Santa Rosa – a 136% 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 $958 in Santa Rosa versus $2,263 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 136% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.