😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $941 in Scottburgh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,461 in Scottburgh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,982 in Scottburgh.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 137% more expensive than Scottburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Scottburgh is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$7.52R 126
115.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$27.70R 465
133.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$5.01R 84.0
107.19%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.97R 32.98
40.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.88R 14.69
155.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.68R 11.33
130.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.00R 33.57
74.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.22R 37.25
80.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.86R 14.48
25.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.90R 15.16
93.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.37R 23.04
27.01%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.20R 36.83
44.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$7.31R 123
83.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$2.87R 48.15
178.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$5.67R 95.1
183.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$0.58R 9.65
293.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$0.80R 13.48
115.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$0.88R 14.73
120.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$0.98R 16.40
159.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.58R 9.76
215.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.17R 19.56
74.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.43R 7.29
360.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.58R 9.75
46.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.79R 46.71
145.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$3.07R 51.4
88.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.45R 24.26
-5.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.70R 28.45
70.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.61R 26.93
41.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.71R 28.69
138.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.61R 10.25
34.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$6.74R 113
171.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.34R 22.42
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$19.9KR 333.7K
77.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$24.6KR 412.6K
56.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$142R 2,383
2.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$29.81R 500
-29.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$33.71R 565
18.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$31.64R 531
54.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$6.90R 116
31.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$208R 3,483
192.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$4,658R 78.1K
250.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$42.39R 711
146.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$29.75R 499
37.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$94.0R 1,576
-0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$74.2R 1,244
59.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$368R 6,163
336.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$338R 5,675
265.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$682R 11.4K
346.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$690R 11.6K
197.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$840R 14.1K
817.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$620R 10.4K
587.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Scottburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Scottburgh: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $368 in Scottburgh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Scottburgh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 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 Scottburgh?
Lisbon and Scottburgh differ by about 137% in total monthly costs ($2,227 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 $3,341 in Lisbon and $1,411 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $368 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 107% 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 $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $941 in Scottburgh – a 137% 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 $2,227 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 137% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.