🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $3,409 in St Lawrence.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $4,968 in St Lawrence.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $6,527 in St Lawrence.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 33% less than in St Lawrence, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, St Lawrence155% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$20.08JEP 14.94
-19.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$67.2JEP 49.96
-5.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$10.85JEP 8.07
-4.88%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$4.11JEP 3.06
-31.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.39JEP 1.03
64.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$1.40JEP 1.04
12.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$4.00JEP 2.98
-15.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$6.92JEP 5.15
-41.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.73JEP 1.29
-36.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.09JEP 1.56
-16.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.99JEP 1.48
-11.56%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$5.49JEP 4.08
-42.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$4.07JEP 3.03
224.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$11.60JEP 8.63
-31.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$6.86JEP 5.11
126.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$4.17JEP 3.10
-43.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.99JEP 1.48
-14.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.49JEP 2.60
-42.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$4.15JEP 3.09
-41.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$3.90JEP 2.90
-54.87%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.78JEP 2.06
-26.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.08JEP 1.55
-7.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.60JEP 1.19
-46.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$11.58JEP 8.61
-43.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$10.79JEP 8.03
-48.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$4.07JEP 3.03
-67.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$6.95JEP 5.17
-57.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$3.47JEP 2.58
-34.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$71.0JEP 52.8
-35.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$6.06JEP 4.51
-30.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$3.82JEP 2.84
-78.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$2.76JEP 2.05
568.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.98JEP 1.47
5.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$22.7KJEP 16.9K
52.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$34.4KJEP 25.6K
13.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$134JEP 99.7
10.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$25.63JEP 19.07
-20.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$67.2JEP 49.97
-41.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$89.7JEP 66.8
-46.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$20.26JEP 15.07
-8.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$14.58JEP 10.85
-36.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$2,044JEP 1,521
-69.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$17.1KJEP 12.7K
-3.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$94.4JEP 70.2
8.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$47.78JEP 35.55
-12.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$127JEP 94.4
-25.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$138JEP 103
-11.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$1,872JEP 1,393
-12.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$2,088JEP 1,554
-40.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$3,387JEP 2,520
-8.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$3,712JEP 2,761
-45.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
2.75
38.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for St Lawrence: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $1,872 in St Lawrence. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $67.0 in St Lawrence for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $327 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 Lawrence: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in St Lawrence?
Lisbon and St Lawrence differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $3,409 including rent). Lisbon 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 Lawrence?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $5,114 in St Lawrence 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 Lawrence?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $1,872 in St Lawrence. 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 Lawrence?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $2,044 in St Lawrence. 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 22% higher in St Lawrence. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and St Lawrence?
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 Lawrence safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and St Lawrence 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 Lawrence?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in St Lawrence. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.