Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Victoria Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Victoria

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,978 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $3,130 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $4,283 in Victoria.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 13% more expensive than Victoria, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Victoria 48% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$15.73 SCR 227
2.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$44.24 SCR 638
45.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$8.94 SCR 129
16.11%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$4.98 SCR 71.8
-44.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$2.66 SCR 38.36
-15.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.73 SCR 39.37
-42.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$3.92 SCR 56.5
-10.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$4.61 SCR 66.6
-13.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.79 SCR 25.82
-39.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.79 SCR 25.82
-2.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.75 SCR 39.64
-36.73%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$3.65 SCR 52.7
-12.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$33.94 SCR 490
-60.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$5.99 SCR 86.4
33.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$11.64 SCR 168
38.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.30 SCR 33.17
-0.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$2.67 SCR 38.47
-35.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.13 SCR 30.75
-8.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$6.26 SCR 90.4
-59.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$2.06 SCR 29.67
-11.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.48 SCR 21.32
37.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$1.31 SCR 18.98
51.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.49 SCR 21.48
-42.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$21.64 SCR 312
-68.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$10.07 SCR 145
-42.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$4.43 SCR 63.9
-69.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$6.71 SCR 96.9
-56.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$0.84 SCR 12.13
171.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$24.64 SCR 356
90.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$6.86 SCR 98.9
-40.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.13 SCR 30.72
-61.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$20.97 SCR 303
-12.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.40 SCR 20.20
43.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$26.3K SCR 379.0K
34.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$34.8K SCR 501.5K
10.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$135 SCR 1,942
8.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$40.70 SCR 587
-48.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$155 SCR 2,239
-74.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$92.2 SCR 1,331
-47.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$15.39 SCR 222
21.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$5.07 SCR 73.2
78.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$154 SCR 2,226
293.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$8,288 SCR 119.6K
97.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$66.0 SCR 952
58.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$27.17 SCR 392
50.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$70.5 SCR 1,017
32.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$72.7 SCR 1,050
63.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$936 SCR 13.5K
71.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$738 SCR 10.7K
67.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$2,010 SCR 29.0K
51.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$1,789 SCR 25.8K
14.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$465 SCR 6,709
1558.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$1,208 SCR 17.4K
253.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$904 SCR 13.0K
75.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
16.5
-76.91%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Victoria: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $936 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 75% 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 $44.00 in Victoria. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $383, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Victoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Victoria?
Lisbon and Victoria differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,978 including rent). Victoria is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Victoria?
Lisbon pays 75% 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 Victoria?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $936 in Victoria. 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 Victoria?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $154 in Victoria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 42% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,978 in Victoria versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Victoria but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Victoria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Victoria?
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 Victoria safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Victoria 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 Victoria?
Expats usually find Victoria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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