🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,141 in Roodepoort versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,764 in Roodepoort versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,386 in Roodepoort versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Roodepoort costs roughly 50% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Roodepoort is 17% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.49R 203
$17.59€15.32
-28.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.93R 763
$62.9€54.8
-25.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.58R 123
$11.58€10.09
-34.54%
Cappuccino
$2.44R 39.74
$3.10€2.70
-21.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23R 19.93
$2.49€2.17
-50.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R 15.19
$1.74€1.52
-46.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33R 37.87
$3.48€3.03
-33.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94R 47.72
$3.44€3.00
-14.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24R 20.11
$1.15€1.00
7.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15R 18.70
$1.91€1.66
-39.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80R 29.34
$1.50€1.31
20.00%
Eggs
$2.71R 44.12
$3.98€3.47
-31.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57R 139
$13.29€11.58
-35.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.55R 90.3
$8.01€6.98
-30.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.71R 142
$18.04€15.72
-51.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17R 35.28
$2.35€2.05
-7.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70R 27.65
$1.75€1.52
-2.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75R 28.44
$1.85€1.62
-5.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05R 33.40
$2.55€2.22
-19.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72R 27.93
$1.84€1.61
-6.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71R 27.73
$2.10€1.83
-18.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20R 19.51
$1.49€1.29
-19.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34R 21.80
$0.82€0.71
63.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43R 55.7
$7.10€6.18
-51.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.02R 97.8
$5.91€5.15
1.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58R 25.70
$1.31€1.15
20.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00R 32.59
$2.13€1.86
-6.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90R 14.58
$2.36€2.05
-61.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.61
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99R 16.14
$4.08€3.55
-75.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90R 14.63
$1.14€0.99
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.71R 239
$17.09€14.89
-13.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53R 24.92
$2.31€2.01
-33.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KR 581.3K
$34.1K€29.7K
4.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KR 561.9K
$41.4K€36.0K
-16.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221R 3,595
$169€147
31.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.04R 618
$19.33€16.84
96.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.34R 607
$33.51€29.20
11.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.96R 796
$48.84€42.55
0.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43€16.93
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.25R 118
$9.57€8.34
-24.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247R 4,017
$696€606
-64.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,591R 90.9K
$17.4K€15.1K
-67.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5R 885
$105€91.7
-48.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.23R 540
$47.75€41.60
-30.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108R 1,762
$101€87.6
7.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.8R 1,508
$124€108
-25.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$623R 10.1K
$1,662€1,448
-62.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249R 4,054
$1,246€1,086
-79.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569R 25.5K
$2,965€2,583
-47.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$538R 8,751
$2,049€1,785
-73.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,834€6,825
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,464€3,889
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roodepoort
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,528R 24.8K
$1,632€1,421
-6.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.25
3.78
197.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roodepoort: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $623 in Roodepoort and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 7% 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: $47.00 in Roodepoort vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $277 per month, with Roodepoort 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
Roodepoort vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Roodepoort and in Lisbon?
Roodepoort and Lisbon differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($1,141 vs $2,296 including rent). Roodepoort is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Roodepoort and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $623 in Roodepoort 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 30% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Roodepoort or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,141 per month in Roodepoort versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,141 in Roodepoort versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roodepoort but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Roodepoort the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Roodepoort 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 Roodepoort or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Roodepoort 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: Roodepoort or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Roodepoort gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Roodepoort vs other spots: cost of living compared