😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,017 in St Francis Bay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,580 in St Francis Bay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,143 in St Francis Bay.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 124% more expensive than in St Francis Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, St Francis Bay is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$8.64R 142
82.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$33.34R 549
90.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$4.94R 81.4
111.54%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$2.11R 34.73
37.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$1.02R 16.86
124.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.78R 12.78
92.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.31R 37.95
54.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.59R 42.62
52.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.14R 18.84
-5.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.05R 17.29
67.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.57R 25.80
8.28%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.39R 39.32
35.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$7.92R 130
67.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$4.63R 76.3
66.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$6.76R 111
133.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$1.66R 27.40
37.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.52R 25.02
9.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.48R 24.30
36.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.65R 27.18
49.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.37R 22.54
30.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.22R 20.11
69.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$1.09R 17.90
80.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.90R 14.74
-7.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.77R 45.60
136.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$4.65R 76.5
19.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.34R 22.05
-0.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.72R 28.35
75.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$1.67R 27.54
35.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$1.09R 18.00
288.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.91R 14.97
-6.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$3.98R 65.6
373.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.27R 20.97
59.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$21.6KR 356.2K
61.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$23.4KR 385.8K
69.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$118R 1,944
25.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$34.99R 576
-41.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$41.92R 690
-5.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$30.80R 507
56.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$10.99R 181
67.33%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$6.55R 108
38.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$195R 3,203
215.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$4,292R 70.7K
279.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$51.0R 839
99.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$31.75R 523
32.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$89.4R 1,472
3.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$79.5R 1,309
53.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$360R 5,923
347.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$339R 5,580
269.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$682R 11.2K
349.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$693R 11.4K
194.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$755R 12.4K
926.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$645R 10.6K
564.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St Francis Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for St Francis Bay: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $360 in St Francis Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in St Francis Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 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 in St Francis Bay?
Lisbon and St Francis Bay differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,017 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,525 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 in St Francis Bay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $360 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 50% 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 $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $1,017 in St Francis Bay – a 124% 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 $1,017 in St Francis Bay versus $2,280 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 124% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.