Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and St John Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and St John

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $3,188 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $4,824 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $6,459 in St John.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 29% less than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, St John 137% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.94 €13.82

$17.45 $17.45

-8.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.4 €54.9

$160 $160

-60.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €9.00

$8.42 $8.42

23.28%

Cappuccino

$2.79 €2.42

$6.46 $6.46

-56.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 €2.03

$2.95 $2.95

-20.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.36

$2.04 $2.04

-23.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 €2.97

$6.68 $6.68

-48.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 €3.39

$6.83 $6.83

-42.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$2.76 $2.76

-60.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 €1.53

$5.68 $5.68

-68.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 €1.48

$1.52 $1.52

12.50%

Eggs

$3.15 €2.73

$6.45 $6.45

-51.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.68 €11.86

$17.39 $17.39

-21.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.94

$26.35 $26.35

-69.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.52 €13.45

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 €1.42

$5.15 $5.15

-68.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.68

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 €2.18

$8.71 $8.71

-71.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.55

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 €1.74

$4.31 $4.31

-53.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.70

$5.11 $5.11

-61.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 €5.88

Wine (Bottle)

$5.67 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 €1.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 €2.61

$6.18 $6.18

-51.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 €1.97

$5.93 $5.93

-61.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.44 €39.38

$142 $142

-68.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 €0.74

$3.02 $3.02

-71.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.28 €15.84

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 €1.72

$1.55 $1.55

28.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.0K €30.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.5K €34.3K

$22.5K $22.5K

76.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 €127

$243 $243

-39.88%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.45 €17.72

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.98 €33.78

$59.3 $59.3

-34.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 €42.46

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.83 €16.32

Cinema Ticket

$9.52 €8.25

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$608 €527

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.5K €14.3K

$13.3K $13.3K

24.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$104 €90.0

$102 $102

2.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 €36.50

$61.0 $61.0

-30.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.2 €79.9

$50.2 $50.2

83.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €104

$49.78 $49.78

141.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 €1,405

$2,196 $2,196

-26.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,268 €1,099

$1,785 $1,785

-28.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,048 €2,642

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,009 €1,741

$2,996 $2,996

-32.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,663 €6,641

$13.0K $13.0K

-41.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,329 €3,752

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,585 €1,374

$4,061 $4,061

-60.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

7.05

-45.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for St John: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $2,196 in St John. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St John pays 156% 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 $160 in St John for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $416 per month, with Lisbon 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 John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and St John differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $3,188 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, St John earns 156% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $2,196 in St John. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in St John. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $3,188 in St John – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,263 in Lisbon versus $3,188 in St John, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in St John. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and St John are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in St John. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.