๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $1,000 in Uitenhage.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,551 in Uitenhage.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $2,102 in Uitenhage.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 124% more expensive than Uitenhage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Uitenhage is 25% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.42
$8.61Rย 142
82.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$34.18Rย 563
84.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.80
$5.01Rย 82.6
105.99%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$2.03Rย 33.35
38.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$0.98Rย 16.14
137.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$0.75Rย 12.43
101.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$2.30Rย 37.93
46.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$2.50Rย 41.12
56.40%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.12Rย 18.43
-3.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$1.00Rย 16.49
75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$1.56Rย 25.69
12.18%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.64
$2.39Rย 39.38
29.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.33
$7.71Rย 127
72.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.70
$4.49Rย 73.9
74.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.69
$6.78Rย 112
136.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.69Rย 27.78
41.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.54Rย 25.38
11.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.49Rย 24.52
32.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$1.63Rย 26.84
56.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.31Rย 21.61
36.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.22Rย 20.12
61.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$1.05Rย 17.33
86.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.71
$0.92Rย 15.18
-8.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$2.72Rย 44.81
150.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ4.99
$3.65Rย 60.2
60.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.34Rย 22.09
2.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.49
$1.71Rย 28.18
70.76%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.95
$1.61Rย 26.44
42.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ39.99
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.51
$1.15Rย 18.97
258.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.88Rย 14.45
-7.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.16
$3.94Rย 64.9
380.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.25Rย 20.53
67.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$21.4KRย 352.2K
64.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
$24.3KRย 400.0K
63.55%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$120Rย 1,973
24.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$34.58Rย 570
-40.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.40
$41.20Rย 679
-4.98%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.35
$30.53Rย 503
62.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.84
$6.62Rย 109
38.97%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ533
$200Rย 3,288
212.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$4,286Rย 70.6K
271.10%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.2
$51.3Rย 846
99.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.87
$31.61Rย 521
29.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.6
$89.3Rย 1,470
7.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ103
$79.9Rย 1,316
51.58%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,410
$366Rย 6,022
352.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,051
$330Rย 5,428
274.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,596
$696Rย 11.5K
337.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,756
$701Rย 11.5K
193.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,720
$726Rย 12.0K
985.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,671
$612Rย 10.1K
602.65%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Uitenhage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,336
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.51
-66.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Uitenhage: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $366 in Uitenhage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $34 in Uitenhage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $174 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 124% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $1,000 including rent). Uitenhage is meaningfully more affordable โ 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 $3,365 in Lisbon and $1,500 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: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $366 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 55% 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 $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $1,000 in Uitenhage โ a 124% 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 $1,000 in Uitenhage versus $2,243 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 124% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.