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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,415 in St Lawrence.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $5,034 in St Lawrence.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $6,653 in St Lawrence.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 35% less than in St Lawrence, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, St Lawrence 155% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$20.32 JEP 15.10
-21.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$68.5 JEP 50.9
-5.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$11.01 JEP 8.18
-4.54%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$4.01 JEP 2.98
-28.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.33 JEP 0.99
68.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.37 JEP 1.02
9.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$4.13 JEP 3.07
-15.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$6.83 JEP 5.07
-43.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.76 JEP 1.31
-35.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.02 JEP 1.50
-13.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.00 JEP 1.49
-12.00%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$5.29 JEP 3.93
-39.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$4.18 JEP 3.10
222.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$11.95 JEP 8.88
-33.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$6.66 JEP 4.95
138.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$4.09 JEP 3.04
-43.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.06 JEP 1.53
-17.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.46 JEP 2.57
-41.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$4.14 JEP 3.08
-40.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$3.94 JEP 2.93
-53.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.78 JEP 2.07
-28.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.98 JEP 1.47
-2.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.67 JEP 1.24
-52.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$11.57 JEP 8.60
-42.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$10.97 JEP 8.15
-47.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$4.14 JEP 3.08
-66.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$6.77 JEP 5.03
-56.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$3.41 JEP 2.54
-30.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$70.6 JEP 52.4
-35.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$6.06 JEP 4.51
-29.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$3.86 JEP 2.87
-78.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$2.79 JEP 2.07
555.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.05 JEP 1.53
0.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$22.6K JEP 16.8K
51.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$33.6K JEP 24.9K
17.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$134 JEP 99.5
10.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$24.94 JEP 18.53
-17.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$66.6 JEP 49.52
-40.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$86.6 JEP 64.4
-44.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$20.14 JEP 14.96
-6.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$14.91 JEP 11.08
-38.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$2,030 JEP 1,508
-69.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$16.9K JEP 12.6K
-5.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$96.2 JEP 71.5
8.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$48.38 JEP 35.95
-13.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$128 JEP 95.5
-26.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$137 JEP 102
-12.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$1,933 JEP 1,437
-15.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$2,064 JEP 1,533
-39.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$3,409 JEP 2,533
-11.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$3,721 JEP 2,765
-45.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St Lawrence
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
-
-
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for St Lawrence: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,933 in St Lawrence. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $68.0 in St Lawrence for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $328 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 St Lawrence?
Lisbon and St Lawrence differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $3,415 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 $3,315 in Lisbon and $5,122 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 St Lawrence?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,933 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $2,030 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 55% less than in St Lawrence. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities