😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,549 in Road Town versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,414 in Road Town versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,280 in Road Town versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Road Town is roughly 12% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Road Town85% above, Lisbon64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27$17.27
$17.55€15.12
-1.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1$81.1
$64.5€55.6
25.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91$7.91
$11.65€10.04
-32.10%
Cappuccino
$4.39$4.39
$3.26€2.81
34.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$2.49€2.15
-31.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91$0.91
$1.67€1.44
-45.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.91$3.91
$3.47€2.99
12.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77$1.77
$3.58€3.08
-50.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23$2.23
$1.18€1.02
88.98%
White Bread(500g)
$4.63$4.63
$1.95€1.68
137.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$1.56€1.35
95.51%
Eggs
$4.86$4.86
$4.01€3.46
21.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$13.27€11.44
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.42€7.26
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$18.23€15.72
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.61$3.61
$2.32€2.00
55.60%
Banana(1kg)
$3.24$3.24
$1.73€1.49
87.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02$2.02
$1.93€1.67
4.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.45$6.45
$2.64€2.27
144.32%
Potato(1kg)
$4.78$4.78
$1.90€1.64
151.58%
Onion(1kg)
$3.94$3.94
$2.11€1.82
86.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$6.23$6.23
$1.44€1.24
332.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87$1.87
$0.80€0.69
133.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36$5.36
$7.01€6.04
-23.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.80$10.80
$5.92€5.11
82.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.36€1.18
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15€1.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.93$3.93
$2.38€2.05
65.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.22€39.85
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.19€3.61
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.10€0.95
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$17.26€14.88
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26$1.26
$2.25€1.94
-44.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.5K€29.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$41.6K€35.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163$163
$171€147
-4.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$80.1$80.1
$19.01€16.38
321.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$124$124
$34.28€29.55
261.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$122$122
$49.65€42.80
145.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90$19.90
$19.51€16.81
2.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.16$10.16
$10.10€8.71
0.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$382$382
$699€603
-45.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K$10.5K
$17.8K€15.3K
-41.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.23$47.23
$105€90.2
-54.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5$54.5
$47.97€41.35
13.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131$131
$102€87.8
28.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140$140
$128€111
9.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,684$1,684
$1,661€1,432
1.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,342$1,342
$1,228€1,059
9.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,277$4,277
$2,915€2,513
46.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,608$3,608
$2,023€1,744
78.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$8,129€7,007
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,635€3,996
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Road Town
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,680$1,680
$1,619€1,396
3.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.78
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Road Town: September 6, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,684 in Road Town and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Road Town pays 4% 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: $81.0 in Road Town vs $64.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $281, with Road Town cheaper for home cooking.
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 in Lisbon?
Road Town and Lisbon differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,549 vs $2,268 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?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Road Town, 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 in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,684 in Road Town versus $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Road Town pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Road Town or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,549 per month in Road Town versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
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 12% less than in Road Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.