😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $765 in São Gabriel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,223 in São Gabriel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,682 in São Gabriel.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 191% more expensive than São Gabriel, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, São Gabriel is 43% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$5.09R$25.38
217.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$26.97R$135
139.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$6.15R$30.70
68.78%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.11R$5.53
149.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.17R$5.84
92.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.82R$4.12
91.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.28R$6.38
172.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.94R$14.67
36.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.84R$4.19
28.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.44R$7.21
20.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.06R$5.27
64.15%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.29R$6.42
146.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$10.92R$54.5
22.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.62R$23.04
72.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$9.30R$46.41
73.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.06R$5.31
115.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.33R$6.63
29.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$0.87R$4.35
122.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$0.70R$3.50
262.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.07R$5.34
71.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.75R$3.76
172.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.71R$3.57
178.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.58R$2.89
46.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$1.58R$7.88
333.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$3.98R$19.86
45.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.98R$4.87
39.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.43R$7.13
102.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.91R$4.55
150.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$39.23R$196
19.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.61R$8.03
153.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.05R$5.25
-21.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$5.42R$27.03
237.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.06R$5.28
89.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$24.1KR$120.3K
46.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$27.1KR$135.2K
42.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$59.8R$298
143.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$14.89R$74.3
40.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$19.63R$98.0
104.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$22.42R$112
117.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$21.24R$106
-12.01%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$6.41R$31.97
41.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$310R$1,549
95.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$2,699R$13.5K
504.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$48.35R$241
116.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$23.12R$115
77.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$81.9R$409
14.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$64.1R$320
84.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$318R$1,586
404.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$216R$1,076
473.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$591R$2,948
415.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$427R$2,132
381.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,580R$7,884
387.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,040R$5,188
310.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
São Gabriel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10
-61.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for São Gabriel: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $318 in São Gabriel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in São Gabriel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $166 per month, with São Gabriel 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 São Gabriel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and São Gabriel?
Lisbon and São Gabriel differ by about 191% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $765 including rent). São Gabriel 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 São Gabriel?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,147 in São Gabriel 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 São Gabriel?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $318 in São Gabriel. 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 São Gabriel?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $310 in São Gabriel. 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 63% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $765 in São Gabriel versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in São Gabriel but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes São Gabriel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and São Gabriel?
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 São Gabriel safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and São Gabriel 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 São Gabriel?
Expats usually find São Gabriel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.