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: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,965 in Victoria.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,172 in Victoria.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $4,378 in Victoria.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 15% more expensive than Victoria, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Victoria 46% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$15.84 SCR 229
0.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$44.95 SCR 649
40.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$9.44 SCR 136
9.96%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$4.86 SCR 70.2
-42.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$2.76 SCR 39.88
-15.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.65 SCR 38.21
-40.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$3.89 SCR 56.1
-11.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$4.56 SCR 65.9
-14.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.85 SCR 26.71
-41.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.71 SCR 24.67
3.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.86 SCR 41.26
-40.21%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$3.52 SCR 50.8
-10.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$34.01 SCR 491
-59.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$6.06 SCR 87.6
32.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$11.98 SCR 173
29.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$2.27 SCR 32.77
0.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$2.54 SCR 36.73
-35.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$2.17 SCR 31.36
-10.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$6.00 SCR 86.6
-58.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.97 SCR 28.51
-9.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.51 SCR 21.83
33.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.38 SCR 19.94
42.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.50 SCR 21.68
-44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$21.77 SCR 314
-68.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$10.55 SCR 152
-46.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$4.35 SCR 62.8
-68.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$6.64 SCR 96.0
-54.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.81 SCR 11.71
180.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$25.11 SCR 363
80.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$6.96 SCR 101
-38.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$2.12 SCR 30.57
-59.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$20.82 SCR 301
-12.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.45 SCR 21.01
37.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$26.0K SCR 375.2K
34.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$34.1K SCR 492.1K
16.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$135 SCR 1,956
7.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$40.87 SCR 590
-49.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$150 SCR 2,160
-73.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$91.7 SCR 1,324
-46.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$15.31 SCR 221
22.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$5.20 SCR 75.1
83.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$158 SCR 2,275
285.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$8,479 SCR 122.5K
94.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$66.3 SCR 958
56.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$27.59 SCR 398
52.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$70.3 SCR 1,015
31.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$71.1 SCR 1,027
68.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$933 SCR 13.5K
73.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$732 SCR 10.6K
73.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$1,986 SCR 28.7K
53.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$1,809 SCR 26.1K
11.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$481 SCR 6,942
1494.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$1,276 SCR 18.4K
239.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Victoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$975 SCR 14.1K
62.61%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Victoria: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $933 in Victoria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 63% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $45.00 in Victoria. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 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 15% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,965 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 63% 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $933 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $158 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 43% 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 $1,965 in Victoria versus $2,263 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 15% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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