😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,026 in St Francis Bay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,587 in St Francis Bay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,147 in St Francis Bay.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 121% more expensive than St Francis Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, St Francis Bay is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$8.40R 136
89.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$33.69R 545
88.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$4.98R 80.4
108.43%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.03R 32.79
37.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$1.02R 16.56
129.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.78R 12.53
101.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$2.27R 36.65
51.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$2.51R 40.54
55.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.11R 18.01
-2.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.05R 17.04
68.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.61R 26.04
6.21%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.47R 39.98
27.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$7.91R 128
72.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$4.65R 75.1
72.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$6.60R 107
135.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.63R 26.34
40.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.54R 24.82
6.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.49R 24.08
30.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$1.65R 26.63
52.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.37R 22.20
30.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.18R 19.13
70.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.06R 17.11
85.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.90R 14.61
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$2.73R 44.14
148.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$4.79R 77.5
18.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.37R 22.21
1.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.73R 27.94
74.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$1.62R 26.22
40.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$1.11R 17.91
286.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.87R 14.15
-2.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$4.08R 66.0
348.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.28R 20.64
55.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$21.1KR 341.0K
66.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$24.3KR 392.5K
62.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$117R 1,898
24.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$34.91R 564
-41.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$41.76R 675
-6.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$30.43R 492
60.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$11.04R 178
70.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$6.66R 108
42.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$193R 3,124
214.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$4,316R 69.8K
282.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$49.63R 802
109.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$32.43R 524
29.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$87.1R 1,407
5.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$78.6R 1,271
52.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$362R 5,854
347.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$339R 5,484
273.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$686R 11.1K
344.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$697R 11.3K
188.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$899R 14.5K
752.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$709R 11.5K
510.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.51
-66.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for St Francis Bay: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $362 in St Francis Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in St Francis Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $178 per month, with St Francis Bay 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 St Francis Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and St Francis Bay?
Lisbon and St Francis Bay differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,026 including rent). St Francis Bay 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 St Francis Bay?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $1,539 in St Francis Bay 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 St Francis Bay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $362 in St Francis Bay. 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 51% 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 St Francis Bay?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $1,026 in St Francis Bay – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,026 in St Francis Bay versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St Francis Bay but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes St Francis Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and St Francis Bay?
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 Francis Bay safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and St Francis Bay 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 Francis Bay?
Expats usually find St Francis Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.