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: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $3,758 in St. Moritz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $6,619 in St. Moritz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $9,479 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 64% above, St. Moritz 173% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.12
$37.71 CHF 30.78
-53.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$147 CHF 120
-56.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$14.97 CHF 12.22
-22.18%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$6.34 CHF 5.18
-48.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$5.52 CHF 4.51
-54.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$4.57 CHF 3.73
-63.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$9.78 CHF 7.98
-64.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$6.33 CHF 5.16
-43.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.86 CHF 1.52
-36.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$3.89 CHF 3.17
-49.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$3.84 CHF 3.13
-59.38%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$7.50 CHF 6.12
-46.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
$27.52 CHF 22.46
-51.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$27.09 CHF 22.11
-68.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$62.2 CHF 50.8
-70.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$4.14 CHF 3.38
-43.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.88 CHF 2.35
-39.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$3.51 CHF 2.87
-45.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$4.85 CHF 3.96
-45.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$2.58 CHF 2.10
-26.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$2.18 CHF 1.78
-3.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$2.59 CHF 2.12
-44.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$1.27 CHF 1.04
-37.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$11.03 CHF 9.00
-36.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$13.32 CHF 10.87
-55.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$2.85 CHF 2.32
-52.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$3.25 CHF 2.65
-33.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$3.85 CHF 3.15
-38.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
$95.6 CHF 78.0
-51.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$8.57 CHF 6.99
-51.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$4.82 CHF 3.93
-77.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$91.1 CHF 74.4
-81.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$2.25 CHF 1.84
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$41.1K CHF 33.5K
-16.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$40.7K CHF 33.2K
2.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$97.1 CHF 79.3
75.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
$39.52 CHF 32.25
-51.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$58.2 CHF 47.46
-41.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$73.8 CHF 60.2
-32.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$19.30 CHF 15.75
-47.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$3,671 CHF 2,996
-80.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$43.2K CHF 35.2K
-58.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$148 CHF 121
-29.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$60.9 CHF 49.73
-21.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$171 CHF 140
-40.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$265 CHF 216
-51.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$1,874 CHF 1,529
-11.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$1,758 CHF 1,435
-30.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$5,636 CHF 4,599
-48.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$4,841 CHF 3,950
-58.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
$12.6K CHF 10.3K
-63.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
St. Moritz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$4,853 CHF 3,961
-66.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
1.8
110.00%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for St. Moritz: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $1,874 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $147 in St. Moritz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $669 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 ($2,268 vs $3,758 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: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $1,874 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 $699 in Lisbon versus $3,671 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 138% 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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