๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $2,018 in Sault Ste. Marie.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $3,022 in Sault Ste. Marie.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $4,025 in Sault Ste. Marie.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 12% more expensive than Sault Ste. Marie, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Sault Ste. Marie50% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.46
$17.00CA$23.29
-6.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.8
$73.7CA$101
-12.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.82
$9.86CA$13.51
5.17%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$3.45CA$4.73
-16.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$1.76CA$2.42
26.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.32
$1.31CA$1.79
18.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.88
$4.44CA$6.09
-23.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.32
$5.40CA$7.40
-27.78%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.96
$2.68CA$3.67
-58.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$2.25CA$3.08
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$3.95CA$5.41
-55.70%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.70
$2.96CA$4.05
7.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.49
$8.94CA$12.25
51.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.63
$10.45CA$14.31
-25.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.32
$11.34CA$15.53
38.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$3.14CA$4.31
-27.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.16CA$1.59
47.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.65
$2.95CA$4.04
-34.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.15
$3.53CA$4.84
-28.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$2.19CA$3.00
-18.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$1.64CA$2.25
25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.65
$2.60CA$3.56
-25.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.58CA$2.17
-48.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.66
$11.89CA$16.28
-44.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.92
$11.07CA$15.16
-47.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.14
$1.94CA$2.66
-31.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$2.46CA$3.36
18.29%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$2.42CA$3.32
-2.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.89
$59.6CA$81.7
-23.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.58
$3.55CA$4.86
18.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.90CA$2.61
-57.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.91
$24.15CA$33.09
-22.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.11CA$1.52
88.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.5K
$24.8KCA$34.0K
39.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$20.0KCA$27.4K
98.06%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$170CA$233
-14.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.73
$41.86CA$57.4
-50.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.85
$70.0CA$95.9
-43.17%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.35
$32.54CA$44.58
49.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.04
$18.28CA$25.04
3.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.72
$12.68CA$17.37
-28.47%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ526
$510CA$698
21.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.8K
$5,214CA$7,143
209.98%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ89.0
$47.18CA$64.6
121.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.50
$36.92CA$50.6
9.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.8
$61.9CA$84.9
51.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$121CA$166
1.08%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,365
$910CA$1,246
76.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,073
$897CA$1,228
40.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,608
$1,496CA$2,050
104.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,709
$1,506CA$2,063
33.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,555
$1,893CA$2,593
306.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,716
$5,621CA$7,701
-22.31%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sault Ste. Marie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,394
$3,066CA$4,201
-46.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.67
-42.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Sault Ste. Marie: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $910 in Sault Ste. Marie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSault Ste. Marie pays 87% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $74 in Sault Ste. Marie for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $318 per month, with Lisbon 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 Sault Ste. Marie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sault Ste. Marie?
Lisbon and Sault Ste. Marie differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $2,018 including rent). Sault Ste. Marie is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Sault Ste. Marie earns 87% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Sault Ste. Marie?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $910 in Sault Ste. Marie. 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 Sault Ste. Marie?
Childcare runs $618 in Lisbon versus $510 in Sault Ste. Marie. 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 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $2,018 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Sault Ste. Marie but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sault Ste. Marie the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sault Ste. Marie?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Sault Ste. Marie safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie?
Expats usually find Sault Ste. Marie gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 12% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.