😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,803 in Road Town versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,799 in Road Town versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,794 in Road Town versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
😐Living in Road Town is roughly 26% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Road Town109% above, Lisbon66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.78$19.78
$16.17€13.81
22.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8$78.8
$64.6€55.1
22.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65$11.65
$10.38€8.86
12.24%
Cappuccino
$4.78$4.78
$2.77€2.37
72.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$2.25€1.92
-4.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.57€1.34
8.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07$4.07
$3.49€2.98
16.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$4.00€3.42
-55.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.37$2.37
$1.08€0.93
119.44%
White Bread(500g)
$4.68$4.68
$1.74€1.49
168.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.97$3.97
$1.74€1.48
128.16%
Eggs
$5.15$5.15
$3.18€2.71
61.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.14$18.14
$13.43€11.47
35.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.16$10.16
$7.99€6.83
27.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.74$14.74
$16.09€13.74
-8.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56$3.56
$2.28€1.95
56.14%
Banana(1kg)
$3.02$3.02
$1.72€1.47
75.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$1.94€1.66
1.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.87$6.87
$2.54€2.17
170.47%
Potato(1kg)
$4.41$4.41
$1.83€1.56
140.98%
Onion(1kg)
$3.68$3.68
$2.04€1.74
80.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$6.14$6.14
$1.98€1.69
210.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.85€0.73
128.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.11$5.11
$6.85€5.85
-25.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.98$11.98
$5.78€4.93
107.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.42$5.42
$1.37€1.17
295.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$2.90€2.48
-32.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.06$4.06
$2.28€1.95
78.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.84€40.00
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.08€3.48
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.82€0.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$18.27€15.60
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26$1.26
$2.01€1.71
-37.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.3K€30.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$38.5K€32.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160$160
$145€124
10.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$82.0$82.0
$20.96€17.90
291.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127$127
$40.05€34.21
218.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$121$121
$48.79€41.66
147.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.71$19.71
$18.69€15.97
5.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.98$9.98
$9.06€7.74
10.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$382$382
$607€518
-37.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K$10.3K
$16.3K€13.9K
-36.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.61$46.61
$105€89.4
-55.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3$54.3
$40.95€34.97
32.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129$129
$93.6€79.9
37.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142$142
$119€101
19.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,634$1,634
$1,604€1,370
1.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,386$1,386
$1,236€1,055
12.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,328$4,328
$3,046€2,601
42.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,654$3,654
$2,057€1,756
77.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,709€6,583
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,266€3,644
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,678$1,678
$1,584€1,353
5.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.81
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Road Town: April 26, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,634 in Road Town and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Road Town pays 6% 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: $79.0 in Road Town vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 vs $271 per month, with Lisbon 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
Road Town vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Road Town and Lisbon?
Road Town and Lisbon differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($2,803 vs $2,227 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Road Town or Lisbon?
Road Town pays 6% 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 Road Town and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,634 in Road Town versus $1,604 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 69% higher in Road Town. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Road Town or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,803 per month in Road Town versus $2,227 in Lisbon – a 26% 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 $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,803 in Road Town, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Road Town. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Road Town 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 Road Town or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Road Town 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: Road Town or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Road Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.