😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,004 in Uitenhage.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $1,559 in Uitenhage.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $2,114 in Uitenhage.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 121% more expensive than Uitenhage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Uitenhage is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$8.74R 141
80.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$33.50R 542
86.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$5.01R 81.1
110.38%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$2.08R 33.67
33.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$0.98R 15.93
132.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$0.82R 13.29
89.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$2.29R 37.04
55.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$2.56R 41.46
55.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.16R 18.76
-6.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.04R 16.86
70.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.64R 26.52
7.93%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$2.49R 40.31
25.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$7.89R 128
69.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$4.48R 72.5
78.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
$6.57R 106
142.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$1.62R 26.19
40.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.54R 24.95
6.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$1.48R 23.92
33.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.64R 26.61
49.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.33R 21.48
33.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$1.19R 19.27
65.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$1.05R 16.94
87.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.93R 15.02
-13.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$2.88R 46.55
127.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$3.74R 60.6
53.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.32R 21.36
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$1.71R 27.62
74.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$1.60R 25.92
46.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$1.15R 18.67
270.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
$0.96R 15.55
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
$3.98R 64.5
373.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$1.24R 20.12
66.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$20.9KR 338.7K
68.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$23.6KR 381.5K
63.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$116R 1,885
29.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$35.21R 570
-40.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$42.17R 683
-6.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$30.95R 501
56.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$6.91R 112
30.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$200R 3,239
204.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$4,305R 69.7K
277.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$50.1R 811
102.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
$31.73R 514
27.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
$89.8R 1,454
3.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$79.2R 1,281
49.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$370R 5,983
333.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$335R 5,419
270.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$695R 11.2K
334.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$682R 11.0K
202.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
$919R 14.9K
768.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
$711R 11.5K
537.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.51
-66.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Uitenhage: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $370 in Uitenhage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Uitenhage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $175 per month, with Uitenhage 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 Uitenhage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Uitenhage?
Lisbon and Uitenhage differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,004 including rent). Uitenhage 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 Uitenhage?
You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $1,506 in Uitenhage 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 Uitenhage?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $370 in Uitenhage. 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 53% 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 Uitenhage?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $1,004 in Uitenhage – 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 $1,004 in Uitenhage versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Uitenhage but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Uitenhage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Uitenhage?
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 Uitenhage safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Uitenhage 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 Uitenhage?
Expats usually find Uitenhage 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.