😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,008 in Sun City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,591 in Sun City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,174 in Sun City.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 121% more expensive than Sun City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Sun City is 25% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$10.99R 184
47.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$45.62R 765
41.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$4.96R 83.1
109.27%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.22R 37.28
24.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.02R 17.18
120.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.76R 12.76
106.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.74R 45.89
27.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.49R 41.73
60.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.09R 18.27
-0.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.75R 12.53
132.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.66R 27.80
4.82%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.45R 41.16
29.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.05R 135
66.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.83R 80.9
65.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$6.79R 114
136.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.67R 28.01
36.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.52R 25.46
13.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.52R 25.50
27.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.59R 26.72
59.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.49R 24.99
22.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.45R 24.38
40.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.06R 17.76
86.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.96R 16.06
-11.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$3.05R 51.1
124.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$5.94R 99.7
-2.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.35R 22.66
1.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.65R 27.64
75.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.61R 26.92
41.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.09R 18.34
274.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.91R 15.22
-9.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$3.99R 66.9
357.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.29R 21.58
55.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$22.3KR 373.8K
58.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$24.0KR 402.0K
60.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$96.7R 1,622
50.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$40.11R 673
-47.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$43.32R 727
-7.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$30.75R 516
58.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$3.04R 51.1
198.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$210R 3,522
188.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$4,957R 83.1K
229.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$50.3R 844
107.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$33.58R 563
21.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$67.3R 1,128
39.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$77.2R 1,294
53.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$364R 6,099
341.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$337R 5,657
266.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$698R 11.7K
336.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$684R 11.5K
200.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$701R 11.8K
998.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$714R 12.0K
497.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sun City
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$1,512R 25.4K
4.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.51
-66.90%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Sun City: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $364 in Sun City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 5% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $46.00 in Sun City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $180 per month, with Sun City cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Sun City: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sun City?
Lisbon and Sun City differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,008 including rent). Sun City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Sun City?
Lisbon pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Sun City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $364 in Sun City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Sun City?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $1,008 in Sun City – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,008 in Sun City versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sun City but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sun City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sun City?
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 Sun City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sun City 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 Sun City?
Expats usually find Sun City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.