Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and St. Moritz Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and St. Moritz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $3,776 in St. Moritz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $6,503 in St. Moritz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $9,229 in St. Moritz.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 40% less than in St. Moritz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, St. Moritz 184% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.74
$31.00 CHF 25.22
-49.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.3
$147 CHF 119
-56.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.11
$14.73 CHF 11.98
-29.06%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.54
$6.32 CHF 5.14
-53.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$5.65 CHF 4.60
-59.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.31
$4.50 CHF 3.66
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.11
$9.75 CHF 7.93
-63.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.46
$5.99 CHF 4.87
-33.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.32 CHF 1.08
-18.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.38 CHF 2.75
-47.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$4.11 CHF 3.34
-58.64%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.83
$7.60 CHF 6.18
-57.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.55
$29.20 CHF 23.75
-54.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.72
$32.92 CHF 26.78
-76.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.75
$50.6 CHF 41.18
-68.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$4.09 CHF 3.33
-44.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.44
$2.89 CHF 2.35
-42.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$3.04 CHF 2.47
-33.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$5.20 CHF 4.23
-52.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.56
$2.74 CHF 2.23
-34.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.80
$2.31 CHF 1.88
-10.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$2.47 CHF 2.01
-20.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.73
$1.73 CHF 1.40
-52.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.71
$11.16 CHF 9.08
-41.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.85
$13.58 CHF 11.05
-58.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$2.70 CHF 2.20
-50.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.62
$3.31 CHF 2.70
-9.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.98
$3.84 CHF 3.13
-40.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.41
$96.9 CHF 78.9
-52.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$7.52 CHF 6.12
-43.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$4.46 CHF 3.63
-80.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.41
$89.2 CHF 72.6
-78.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.76
$2.24 CHF 1.82
-9.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.5K
$40.5K CHF 32.9K
-13.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.6K
$39.8K CHF 32.4K
-0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$97.2 CHF 79.1
52.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.89
$36.41 CHF 29.61
-43.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.46
$59.7 CHF 48.54
-33.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €42.00
$74.7 CHF 60.8
-35.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €16.03
$42.41 CHF 34.50
-56.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.93
$18.87 CHF 15.35
-51.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €536
$3,368 CHF 2,739
-81.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$39.7K CHF 32.3K
-59.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.6
$137 CHF 112
-26.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.69
$62.3 CHF 50.6
-32.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €80.5
$151 CHF 123
-38.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$203 CHF 165
-39.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,405
$1,702 CHF 1,385
-5.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,093
$1,993 CHF 1,621
-37.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,676
$2,808 CHF 2,284
9.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,776
$4,655 CHF 3,787
-56.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,757
$15.6K CHF 12.7K
-50.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,737
$12.2K CHF 9,957
-64.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,396
$4,804 CHF 3,908
-66.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
1.8
111.67%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for St. Moritz: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $1,702 in St. Moritz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St. Moritz pays 200% 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 $147 in St. Moritz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $665 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. Moritz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in St. Moritz?
Lisbon and St. Moritz differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $3,776 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 200% lower in St. Moritz. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in St. Moritz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $1,702 in St. Moritz. 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. Moritz?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $3,368 in St. Moritz. 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 149% higher in St. Moritz. 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. Moritz?
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. Moritz safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and St. Moritz 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. Moritz?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in St. Moritz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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