😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,084 in Scottburgh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,663 in Scottburgh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,242 in Scottburgh.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 112% more expensive than in Scottburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Scottburgh is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.31
$7.87R 128
123.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.7
$39.52R 642
59.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.08
$6.16R 100
87.99%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.88R 46.77
7.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$1.12R 18.18
122.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.87R 14.09
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.51R 40.85
38.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.71R 44.00
26.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.99R 16.02
16.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.02R 16.53
87.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.55R 25.11
-3.23%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$2.45R 39.77
62.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.57
$8.38R 136
58.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.97
$3.10R 50.3
158.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.70
$6.09R 99.0
196.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$0.64R 10.44
267.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$0.93R 15.09
88.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$0.91R 14.82
103.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.03R 16.81
147.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$0.65R 10.49
183.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.45R 23.54
44.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$0.49R 7.95
204.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.65R 10.49
26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$3.07R 49.86
131.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$3.21R 52.1
84.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$1.52R 24.69
-13.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.99R 32.39
7.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$1.52R 24.66
55.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.57
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.45R 7.30
806.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.78R 12.66
46.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.88
$7.67R 125
122.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.48R 24.05
56.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$36.8KR 597.9K
-7.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$33.1KR 537.7K
25.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$144R 2,342
16.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.83
$34.89R 567
-44.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.17
$41.39R 672
-19.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.51
$33.64R 546
45.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$6.93R 113
38.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$335R 5,442
107.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$7,911R 128.5K
119.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$56.6R 919
86.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.56
$30.59R 497
56.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$99.1R 1,610
1.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$89.6R 1,455
38.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,446
$431R 7,009
285.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
$379R 6,157
228.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,580
$811R 13.2K
265.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,783
$766R 12.4K
167.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,819
$879R 14.3K
790.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,886
$679R 11.0K
557.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,420
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
11.81
-67.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Scottburgh: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $431 in Scottburgh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Scottburgh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $145 per month, with Scottburgh 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 Scottburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Scottburgh?
Lisbon and Scottburgh differ by about 112% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,084 including rent). Scottburgh 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 Scottburgh?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $1,625 in Scottburgh 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 in Scottburgh?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $431 in Scottburgh. 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 91% 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 Scottburgh?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $1,084 in Scottburgh – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,084 in Scottburgh versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Scottburgh but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Scottburgh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Scottburgh?
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 Scottburgh safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Scottburgh 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 Scottburgh?
Expats usually find Scottburgh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.