🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,048 in Randburg versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Randburg versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,169 in Randburg versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Randburg costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Randburg is 22% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.39R 186
$15.91€13.70
-28.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.68R 681
$64.8€55.8
-35.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83R 78.9
$10.51€9.05
-54.04%
Cappuccino
$2.25R 36.76
$2.87€2.47
-21.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.65
$2.24€1.93
-54.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83R 13.60
$1.50€1.30
-44.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51R 40.97
$3.49€3.01
-28.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83R 46.20
$3.88€3.34
-27.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14R 18.65
$1.14€0.98
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.02R 16.61
$1.75€1.51
-41.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64R 26.87
$1.76€1.51
-6.82%
Eggs
$2.44R 39.96
$3.22€2.77
-24.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.58R 124
$13.49€11.62
-43.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72R 77.1
$7.91€6.81
-40.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.54R 107
$15.87€13.67
-58.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64R 26.75
$2.31€1.99
-29.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48R 24.17
$1.70€1.46
-12.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54R 25.16
$2.01€1.73
-23.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62R 26.40
$2.46€2.12
-34.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38R 22.55
$1.84€1.59
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40R 22.81
$2.00€1.72
-30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05R 17.11
$1.93€1.66
-45.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96R 15.73
$0.79€0.68
21.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05R 49.90
$6.61€5.69
-53.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.32R 87.0
$5.72€4.93
-6.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51R 24.73
$1.37€1.18
10.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79R 29.27
$2.97€2.56
-39.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.68R 27.42
$2.37€2.04
-29.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.23
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R 18.11
$4.29€3.69
-74.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10R 17.95
$0.82€0.70
34.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.00R 49.00
$18.30€15.76
-83.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.39
$2.06€1.78
-39.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0KR 359.0K
$34.3K€29.5K
-35.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KR 396.5K
$39.3K€33.8K
-38.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125R 2,040
$148€127
-15.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.24R 658
$20.52€17.67
96.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.12R 689
$39.61€34.11
6.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.87R 292
$47.85€41.20
-62.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.32R 70.7
$18.92€16.29
-77.17%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46R 122
$9.18€7.91
-18.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$211R 3,450
$614€529
-65.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,294R 70.2K
$16.0K€13.8K
-73.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0R 833
$105€90.1
-51.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.86R 521
$42.06€36.22
-24.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.0R 1,471
$94.0€80.9
-4.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8R 1,287
$120€103
-34.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279R 4,558
$1,628€1,402
-82.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340R 5,565
$1,255€1,081
-72.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507R 8,289
$3,030€2,609
-83.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$642R 10.5K
$2,020€1,740
-68.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,716
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,679
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,980R 32.4K
$1,603€1,381
23.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.69
3.81
206.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Randburg: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $279 in Randburg and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Randburg pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Randburg vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $269 per month, with Randburg 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
Randburg vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Randburg and Lisbon?
Randburg and Lisbon differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($1,048 vs $2,210 including rent). Randburg is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Randburg or Lisbon?
Randburg pays 23% 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 Randburg and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $279 in Randburg 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 50% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Randburg or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,048 per month in Randburg versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 111% 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 $1,048 in Randburg versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Randburg but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Randburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Randburg 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 Randburg or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Randburg 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: Randburg or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Randburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.