🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $908 in Port Shepstone versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,426 in Port Shepstone versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Port Shepstone versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Port Shepstone costs roughly 59% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Port Shepstone is 32% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.68R 125
$15.91€13.69
-51.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.56R 448
$64.8€55.7
-57.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.92R 80.0
$10.51€9.04
-53.19%
Cappuccino
$1.90R 30.82
$2.87€2.47
-33.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89R 14.53
$2.24€1.93
-60.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R 10.95
$1.50€1.29
-55.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99R 32.33
$3.49€3.00
-42.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22R 36.13
$3.88€3.34
-42.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82R 13.32
$1.14€0.98
-28.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66R 10.67
$1.75€1.51
-62.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11R 17.97
$1.76€1.51
-36.93%
Eggs
$1.30R 21.16
$3.22€2.77
-59.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.68R 109
$13.49€11.61
-50.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35R 54.4
$7.91€6.81
-57.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.22R 101
$15.87€13.65
-60.81%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15R 18.63
$2.31€1.99
-50.22%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69R 11.28
$1.70€1.46
-59.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58R 9.37
$2.01€1.73
-71.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34R 21.85
$2.46€2.12
-45.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.58R 9.50
$1.84€1.59
-68.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22R 19.83
$2.00€1.72
-39.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85R 13.85
$1.93€1.66
-55.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58R 9.37
$0.79€0.68
-26.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16R 51.4
$6.61€5.68
-52.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.91R 79.8
$5.72€4.92
-14.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42R 23.03
$1.37€1.17
3.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77R 28.78
$2.97€2.56
-40.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 26.48
$2.37€2.04
-31.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.73R 28.07
$4.29€3.69
-59.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57R 9.29
$0.82€0.70
-30.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.65R 108
$18.30€15.74
-63.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30R 21.19
$2.06€1.78
-36.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KR 322.4K
$34.3K€29.5K
-42.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KR 388.9K
$39.3K€33.8K
-39.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111R 1,808
$148€127
-24.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.63R 270
$20.52€17.65
-18.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.36R 542
$39.61€34.08
-15.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.39R 478
$47.85€41.16
-38.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76R 110
$9.18€7.90
-26.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$209R 3,394
$614€528
-65.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,683R 76.1K
$16.0K€13.8K
-70.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.64R 693
$105€90.0
-59.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.89R 486
$42.06€36.18
-28.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5R 1,520
$94.0€80.8
-0.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1R 1,204
$120€103
-38.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365R 5,925
$1,628€1,400
-77.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340R 5,529
$1,255€1,080
-72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$683R 11.1K
$3,030€2,607
-77.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$679R 11.0K
$2,020€1,738
-66.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$778R 12.6K
$7,800€6,709
-90.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$606R 9,844
$4,273€3,675
-85.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Shepstone
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,017R 49.0K
$1,603€1,379
88.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.01
3.81
215.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Shepstone: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Port Shepstone and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Shepstone pays 88% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Port Shepstone vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $134 vs $269 per month, with Port Shepstone 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
Port Shepstone vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Port Shepstone and Lisbon?
Port Shepstone and Lisbon differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($908 vs $2,210 including rent). Port Shepstone is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Port Shepstone or Lisbon?
Port Shepstone pays 88% 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 Port Shepstone and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $365 in Port Shepstone versus $1,628 in Lisbon. 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 102% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Port Shepstone or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $908 per month in Port Shepstone versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 143% 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 $908 in Port Shepstone versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Shepstone but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Port Shepstone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Port Shepstone and Lisbon?
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 Port Shepstone or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Port Shepstone and Lisbon 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: Port Shepstone or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Port Shepstone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Port Shepstone vs other spots: cost of living compared