🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,058 in Randburg versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,604 in Randburg versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,151 in Randburg versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Randburg costs roughly 54% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Randburg is 21% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.16R 185
$16.19€14.17
-31.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.44R 703
$63.3€55.4
-32.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.65R 77.0
$10.32€9.03
-54.94%
Cappuccino
$2.22R 36.76
$2.83€2.48
-21.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06R 17.55
$2.29€2.00
-53.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88R 14.52
$1.58€1.38
-44.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49R 41.19
$3.40€2.98
-26.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83R 46.82
$4.03€3.52
-29.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14R 18.93
$1.09€0.95
4.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07R 17.66
$1.75€1.53
-38.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57R 25.94
$1.76€1.54
-10.80%
Eggs
$2.47R 40.89
$3.17€2.77
-22.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.64R 126
$13.19€11.54
-42.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.71R 78.0
$7.97€6.97
-40.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.54R 108
$15.53€13.59
-57.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61R 26.61
$2.37€2.07
-32.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47R 24.35
$1.71€1.49
-14.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54R 25.42
$2.01€1.76
-23.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66R 27.50
$2.43€2.13
-31.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32R 21.87
$1.76€1.54
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41R 23.32
$2.03€1.78
-30.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05R 17.42
$1.92€1.68
-45.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.47
$0.85€0.74
2.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00R 49.67
$6.58€5.76
-54.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.29R 87.6
$5.58€4.88
-5.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56R 25.82
$1.33€1.17
17.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87R 30.90
$2.97€2.60
-37.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69R 28.05
$2.28€1.99
-25.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.79€40.06
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14R 18.88
$4.23€3.70
-73.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10R 18.13
$0.81€0.71
35.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.99R 49.53
$18.44€16.13
-83.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26R 20.89
$2.08€1.82
-39.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KR 373.8K
$34.7K€30.3K
-34.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KR 402.4K
$39.2K€34.3K
-37.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124R 2,046
$148€130
-16.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.40R 669
$20.46€17.90
97.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.76R 691
$39.56€34.61
5.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.18R 301
$47.99€41.99
-62.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.29R 71.1
$18.60€16.27
-76.94%
Cinema Ticket
$7.39R 122
$9.22€8.07
-19.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$204R 3,382
$616€539
-66.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,313R 71.4K
$16.4K€14.4K
-73.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9R 843
$103€89.9
-50.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.41R 537
$41.74€36.52
-22.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0R 1,507
$94.8€82.9
-3.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3R 1,296
$122€107
-35.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$285R 4,712
$1,633€1,428
-82.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335R 5,550
$1,232€1,078
-72.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$497R 8,219
$3,098€2,711
-83.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$638R 10.6K
$2,031€1,777
-68.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,831€6,851
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,389€3,840
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,894R 31.4K
$1,607€1,406
17.86%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $285 in Randburg and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Randburg pays 18% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $267 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 in Lisbon?
Randburg and Lisbon differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($1,058 vs $2,291 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?
Average pay runs 18% higher in Randburg, 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 in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $285 in Randburg versus $1,633 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 49% 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 $1,058 per month in Randburg versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 117% 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 $1,058 in Randburg versus $2,291 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 117% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.