🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $2,408 in Watertown, SD.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $3,490 in Watertown, SD.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $4,571 in Watertown, SD.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 8% less than in Watertown, SD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Watertown, SD81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.77
$14.99$14.99
5.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€54.5
$58.4$58.4
7.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.19
$10.07$10.07
4.67%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.41
$5.04$5.04
-45.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.99
$2.67$2.67
-14.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.35
$2.04$2.04
-24.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.09
$6.03$6.03
-41.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.47
$7.12$7.12
-44.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.02$1.02
5.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.54
$4.26$4.26
-58.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$3.93$3.93
-54.96%
Eggs
$3.12€2.72
$3.19$3.19
-2.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.64
$9.45$9.45
41.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.98
$11.78$11.78
-32.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.89
$9.68$9.68
64.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$5.12$5.12
-55.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.43
$1.21$1.21
35.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$5.87$5.87
-66.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$5.23$5.23
-53.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$3.75$3.75
-52.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.72
$3.78$3.78
-47.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$2.05$2.05
-3.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.70
$1.97$1.97
-59.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.70
$8.25$8.25
-20.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€5.01
$16.02$16.02
-64.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$1.78$1.78
-25.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.60
$4.54$4.54
-34.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.04
$1.95$1.95
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€40.01
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.71
$4.91$4.91
-13.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.74
$1.38$1.38
-39.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.45
$29.71$29.71
-36.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.81
$0.83$0.83
149.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.8K
$35.4K$35.4K
-0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.7K
$25.4K$25.4K
52.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€132
$126$126
20.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.24
$48.13$48.13
-56.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.50
$54.8$54.8
-27.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€42.22
$43.53$43.53
11.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.89
$13.91$13.91
-35.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€532
$1,458$1,458
-58.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$29.8K$29.8K
-45.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€88.3
$39.48$39.48
156.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€35.41
$41.30$41.30
-1.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€81.2
$76.2$76.2
22.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$123$123
-3.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,398
$1,595$1,595
0.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,081
$1,375$1,375
-9.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,634
$2,671$2,671
13.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,798
$2,233$2,233
-7.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,963
$2,340$2,340
241.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,955
$2,634$2,634
72.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Watertown, SD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,421
$2,625$2,625
-37.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.43
-40.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Watertown, SD: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $1,595 in Watertown, SD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Watertown, SD pays 61% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $58.0 in Watertown, SD. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $381, 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 Watertown, SD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Watertown, SD?
Lisbon and Watertown, SD differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $2,408 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Watertown, SD. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Watertown, SD?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $1,595 in Watertown, SD. 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 42% higher in Watertown, SD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Watertown, SD?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $2,408 in Watertown, SD – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,217 in Lisbon versus $2,408 in Watertown, SD, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Watertown, SD. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Watertown, SD?
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 Watertown, SD safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Watertown, SD 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 Watertown, SD?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Watertown, SD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.