🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $3,847 in St. Moritz.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $6,534 in St. Moritz.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $9,221 in St. Moritz.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 41% less than in St. Moritz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, St. Moritz186% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$31.18CHF 24.75
-48.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$146CHF 116
-56.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$14.71CHF 11.68
-29.44%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$6.27CHF 4.98
-55.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$5.48CHF 4.35
-57.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$4.70CHF 3.73
-66.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$9.73CHF 7.73
-64.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$6.05CHF 4.81
-35.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.33CHF 1.06
-18.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$3.40CHF 2.70
-47.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$3.94CHF 3.13
-56.60%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$7.46CHF 5.92
-57.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$29.03CHF 23.05
-52.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$33.94CHF 26.95
-76.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$50.8CHF 40.32
-69.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$4.14CHF 3.29
-44.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.91CHF 2.31
-43.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$3.15CHF 2.50
-38.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$5.05CHF 4.01
-50.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.73CHF 2.17
-34.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.29CHF 1.82
-12.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$2.58CHF 2.05
-23.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.67CHF 1.33
-49.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$11.28CHF 8.95
-39.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$14.82CHF 11.76
-61.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.64CHF 2.09
-47.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$3.22CHF 2.56
-6.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$4.04CHF 3.21
-43.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$95.2CHF 75.6
-52.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$7.52CHF 5.97
-42.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$4.54CHF 3.61
-81.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$86.3CHF 68.5
-78.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$2.27CHF 1.80
-12.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$40.0KCHF 31.8K
-12.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$39.8KCHF 31.6K
-0.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$98.5CHF 78.2
48.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$35.59CHF 28.25
-42.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$59.2CHF 46.98
-34.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$73.5CHF 58.3
-33.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$19.41CHF 15.41
-50.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$3,408CHF 2,705
-82.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$38.5KCHF 30.6K
-57.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$141CHF 112
-26.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$61.3CHF 48.69
-31.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$147CHF 117
-37.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$205CHF 163
-41.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$1,699CHF 1,348
-4.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$1,955CHF 1,552
-35.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$2,868CHF 2,277
6.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$4,615CHF 3,664
-56.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$15.0KCHF 11.9K
-48.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$11.6KCHF 9,221
-62.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$4,973CHF 3,948
-68.13%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for St. Moritz: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $1,699 in St. Moritz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰St. Moritz pays 214% 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 $146 in St. Moritz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $670 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 St. Moritz?
Lisbon and St. Moritz differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $3,847 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, St. Moritz earns 214% less. 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 St. Moritz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,699 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $3,408 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 more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,263 in Lisbon versus $3,847 in St. Moritz, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in St. Moritz. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 70% less than in St. Moritz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.