😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $944 in Scottburgh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,463 in Scottburgh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,982 in Scottburgh.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 140% more expensive than Scottburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Scottburgh is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$7.46R 121
113.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$27.61R 446
129.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$5.16R 83.4
101.16%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.01R 32.44
38.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.88R 14.28
165.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.71R 11.41
121.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$1.92R 31.06
78.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$2.23R 35.98
75.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.93R 15.07
16.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$0.96R 15.58
84.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.38R 22.38
23.91%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.13R 34.45
47.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$7.36R 119
85.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$2.77R 44.78
189.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$5.57R 90.0
178.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$0.54R 8.77
324.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$0.87R 14.07
88.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$0.88R 14.24
120.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$0.96R 15.59
161.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$0.58R 9.40
208.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.18R 19.05
70.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.43R 6.93
358.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.58R 9.37
44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$2.72R 43.91
149.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$3.05R 49.30
85.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.46R 23.57
-4.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.75R 28.31
72.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$1.66R 26.87
36.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$1.71R 27.57
150.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.59R 9.53
44.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$6.68R 108
173.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.28R 20.71
55.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$20.5KR 330.9K
71.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$24.7KR 399.1K
60.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$143R 2,308
2.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$29.13R 471
-29.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$34.33R 555
13.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$31.16R 504
57.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$6.68R 108
42.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$203R 3,288
199.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$4,676R 75.6K
253.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$42.02R 679
147.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$29.64R 479
42.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$93.9R 1,518
-1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$73.1R 1,182
64.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$363R 5,866
346.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$331R 5,343
283.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$698R 11.3K
336.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$699R 11.3K
187.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$814R 13.2K
841.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$668R 10.8K
548.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
12.01
-68.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Scottburgh: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $363 in Scottburgh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Scottburgh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $132 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 Scottburgh?
Lisbon and Scottburgh differ by about 140% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $944 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 $3,394 in Lisbon and $1,416 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 Scottburgh?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $363 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 104% 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 $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $944 in Scottburgh – a 140% 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 $944 in Scottburgh versus $2,263 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 140% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.