🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,086 in Randburg versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,772 in Randburg versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,459 in Randburg versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Randburg costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Randburg is 21% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.89R 178
$17.59€15.33
-38.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.23R 757
$62.9€54.8
-26.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.49R 89.9
$11.58€10.10
-52.59%
Cappuccino
$2.51R 41.16
$3.10€2.70
-19.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17R 19.22
$2.49€2.17
-53.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97R 15.95
$1.74€1.52
-44.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.54R 41.68
$3.48€3.03
-27.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29R 53.9
$3.44€3.00
-4.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36R 22.27
$1.15€1.00
18.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17R 19.15
$1.91€1.66
-38.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81R 29.59
$1.50€1.31
20.67%
Eggs
$2.74R 44.92
$3.98€3.47
-31.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.42R 138
$13.29€11.59
-36.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.56R 91.1
$8.01€6.98
-30.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.32R 120
$18.04€15.73
-59.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05R 33.56
$2.35€2.05
-12.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65R 27.09
$1.75€1.53
-5.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79R 29.31
$1.85€1.62
-3.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62R 26.49
$2.55€2.22
-36.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70R 27.76
$1.84€1.61
-7.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64R 26.94
$2.10€1.83
-21.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19R 19.45
$1.49€1.30
-20.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28R 21.02
$0.82€0.71
56.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.47R 56.8
$7.10€6.19
-51.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.28R 86.6
$5.91€5.15
-10.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54R 25.17
$1.31€1.15
17.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28R 37.40
$2.13€1.86
7.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.36€2.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.63
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32R 5.32
$4.08€3.55
-92.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89R 14.65
$1.14€0.99
-21.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.60R 239
$17.09€14.90
-14.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49R 24.37
$2.31€2.01
-35.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KR 603.1K
$34.1K€29.7K
7.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KR 522.8K
$41.4K€36.1K
-22.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154R 2,515
$169€147
-8.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.27R 627
$19.33€16.85
97.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.05R 607
$33.51€29.21
10.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.80R 341
$48.84€42.57
-57.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.58R 75.1
$19.43€16.94
-76.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.20R 118
$9.57€8.34
-24.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267R 4,375
$696€607
-61.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,650R 92.5K
$17.4K€15.1K
-67.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4R 907
$105€91.8
-47.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.65R 764
$47.75€41.62
-2.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106R 1,743
$101€87.6
5.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.6R 1,370
$124€108
-32.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$308R 5,051
$1,662€1,449
-81.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$303R 4,965
$1,246€1,086
-75.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557R 9,130
$2,965€2,584
-81.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$735R 12.0K
$2,049€1,786
-64.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,834€6,829
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,464€3,892
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Randburg
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,960R 32.1K
$1,632€1,422
20.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
3.78
200.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Randburg: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $308 in Randburg and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Randburg pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Randburg vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $277 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 111% in total monthly costs ($1,086 vs $2,296 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 20% 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: $308 in Randburg versus $1,662 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 35% 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 $1,086 per month in Randburg versus $2,296 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 $1,086 in Randburg versus $2,296 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.