😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $941 in Scottburgh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,467 in Scottburgh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,992 in Scottburgh.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 142% more expensive than in Scottburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Scottburgh is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$7.67R 126
105.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$27.69R 456
129.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$5.17R 85.1
102.13%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$1.97R 32.49
47.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.87R 14.32
163.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.68R 11.13
120.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.00R 32.90
78.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.18R 35.94
81.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$0.93R 15.36
16.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$0.95R 15.70
85.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.38R 22.68
23.19%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.13R 35.12
52.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$7.51R 124
76.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$2.86R 47.10
169.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$5.48R 90.2
187.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$0.53R 8.77
330.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$0.82R 13.48
102.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$0.87R 14.28
132.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$0.91R 15.05
171.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$0.58R 9.51
208.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.23R 20.20
68.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.47R 7.68
319.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.53R 8.77
56.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.79R 45.88
134.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$3.01R 49.60
85.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.40R 23.01
-5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.70R 27.95
77.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$1.68R 27.64
35.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$1.72R 28.36
145.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.58R 9.60
46.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$6.91R 114
172.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.32R 21.73
53.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$20.1KR 330.9K
73.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$24.5KR 403.1K
61.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$142R 2,340
4.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$29.33R 483
-30.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$33.82R 557
16.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$31.27R 515
54.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$6.53R 108
39.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$204R 3,366
200.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$4,528R 74.5K
259.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$41.70R 687
143.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$30.48R 502
38.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$93.4R 1,538
-1.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$73.0R 1,201
67.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$365R 6,002
342.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$335R 5,511
274.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$683R 11.2K
349.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$686R 11.3K
196.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,001R 16.5K
674.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$725R 11.9K
491.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Scottburgh: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $365 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 $267 vs $131 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 142% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $941 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,412 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $365 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 $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $941 in Scottburgh – a 142% 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 $941 in Scottburgh versus $2,280 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 142% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.