Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Santiago Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Santiago

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,410 in Santiago.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,070 in Santiago.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,730 in Santiago.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 58% more expensive than Santiago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Santiago 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.84

$4.52 PAB 4.52

257.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.3

$29.80 PAB 29.80

116.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.88

$5.09 PAB 5.09

103.93%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$3.52 PAB 3.52

-21.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

$0.72 PAB 0.72

212.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.35

$0.78 PAB 0.78

101.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.99

$1.02 PAB 1.02

242.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.43

$1.97 PAB 1.97

103.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.80 PAB 1.80

-40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.50 PAB 2.50

-30.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.49

$2.50 PAB 2.50

-30.40%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.72

$2.92 PAB 2.92

8.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.50

$11.66 PAB 11.66

15.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.84

$7.24 PAB 7.24

10.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.77

$10.06 PAB 10.06

59.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$3.39 PAB 3.39

-32.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.48

$1.56 PAB 1.56

10.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-32.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.18

$3.14 PAB 3.14

-19.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.57

$2.27 PAB 2.27

-19.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.75

$2.92 PAB 2.92

-30.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$2.22 PAB 2.22

-10.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-45.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.87

$5.85 PAB 5.85

17.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.94

$10.81 PAB 10.81

-46.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

$1.30 PAB 1.30

5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$2.36 PAB 2.36

22.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.49

$2.56 PAB 2.56

59.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$1.84 PAB 1.84

-55.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.64

$22.34 PAB 22.34

-18.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.72

$0.94 PAB 0.94

113.83%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.2K

$20.0K PAB 20.0K

76.77%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

84.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

$118 PAB 118

23.14%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.94

$14.87 PAB 14.87

40.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.29

$43.82 PAB 43.82

-8.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.76

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €16.00

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.76

$7.95 PAB 7.95

13.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €519

$484 PAB 484

25.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.0K

$15.9K PAB 15.9K

2.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.6

$51.0 PAB 51.0

105.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €35.06

$46.45 PAB 46.45

-11.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €80.1

$89.6 PAB 89.6

4.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

$119 PAB 119

-0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,373

$445 PAB 445

260.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,058

$640 PAB 640

92.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,607

$646 PAB 646

371.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,761

$1,119 PAB 1,119

83.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,599

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,652

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,356

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

6.23

-38.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Santiago: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $445 in Santiago. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $30.00 in Santiago. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $293, 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 Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Santiago differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,410 including rent). Santiago is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $2,114 in Santiago 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $445 in Santiago. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $1,410 in Santiago – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,410 in Santiago versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santiago but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santiago the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Santiago are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Santiago gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.