🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,396 in St.Catharines.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $3,305 in St.Catharines.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $4,215 in St.Catharines.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 3% less than in St.Catharines, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon69% above, St.Catharines74% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$14.55CA$20.14
18.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$58.9CA$81.5
7.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$12.85CA$17.79
-11.36%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.58CA$4.95
-10.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.89CA$2.61
29.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.64CA$2.27
7.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$4.82CA$6.66
-25.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$5.33CA$7.37
-36.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.94CA$2.69
-36.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$2.49CA$3.44
-20.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$3.91CA$5.41
-61.13%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$4.06CA$5.62
-0.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$13.84CA$19.16
-2.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$15.47CA$21.41
-45.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$14.03CA$19.42
30.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$5.08CA$7.04
-54.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.19CA$1.64
46.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$4.38CA$6.06
-57.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$4.21CA$5.83
-37.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.98CA$4.12
-35.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$4.55CA$6.30
-54.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$2.75CA$3.80
-47.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.34CA$1.85
-37.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$13.90CA$19.23
-51.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$12.78CA$17.68
-55.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$3.02CA$4.17
-54.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$3.06CA$4.23
-27.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$2.48CA$3.43
-3.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$73.1CA$101
-36.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$2.86CA$3.96
45.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.26CA$3.12
-49.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$22.81CA$31.57
-22.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.13CA$1.56
105.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$27.0KCA$37.3K
31.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$20.1KCA$27.8K
106.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$181CA$250
-5.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$31.56CA$43.67
-38.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$83.1CA$115
-59.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$32.02CA$44.31
50.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$41.61CA$57.6
-52.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$11.43CA$15.82
-13.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$513CA$710
39.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$28.7KCA$39.7K
-39.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$73.0CA$101
43.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$54.1CA$74.9
-13.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$75.8CA$105
36.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$84.9CA$118
45.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$1,190CA$1,646
40.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$1,190CA$1,647
6.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$1,818CA$2,516
64.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$1,554CA$2,150
28.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$3,117CA$4,313
151.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$2,728CA$3,775
70.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St.Catharines
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$2,987CA$4,134
-47.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.41
-29.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for St.Catharines: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $1,190 in St.Catharines. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰St.Catharines pays 89% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $59.0 in St.Catharines. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $400, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 St.Catharines: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in St.Catharines?
Lisbon and St.Catharines differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $2,396 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 89% lower in St.Catharines. 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 in St.Catharines?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $1,190 in St.Catharines. 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 St.Catharines?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $513 in St.Catharines. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in St.Catharines. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,316 in Lisbon versus $2,396 in St.Catharines, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in St.Catharines. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and St.Catharines?
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 St.Catharines safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and St.Catharines 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 St.Catharines?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in St.Catharines. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.