πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $4,430 in Saint George versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $6,697 in Saint George versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,964 in Saint George versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Saint George is roughly 100% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Saint George231% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$59.5BMDΒ 59.5
$15.91β¬13.69
273.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$179BMDΒ 179
$64.8β¬55.7
177.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.02BMDΒ 15.02
$10.51β¬9.04
42.91%
Cappuccino
$6.32BMDΒ 6.32
$2.87β¬2.47
120.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50BMDΒ 3.50
$2.24β¬1.93
56.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86BMDΒ 2.86
$1.50β¬1.29
90.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.80BMDΒ 9.80
$3.49β¬3.00
180.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.74BMDΒ 8.74
$3.88β¬3.34
125.26%
π Groceries & Markets
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.54BMDΒ 4.54
$1.14β¬0.98
298.25%
White Bread(500g)
$8.53BMDΒ 8.53
$1.75β¬1.51
387.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89BMDΒ 3.89
$1.76β¬1.51
121.02%
Eggs
$7.49BMDΒ 7.49
$3.22β¬2.77
132.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.65BMDΒ 7.65
$13.49β¬11.61
-43.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.35BMDΒ 24.35
$7.91β¬6.81
207.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.52BMDΒ 25.52
$15.87β¬13.65
60.81%
Apples(1kg)
$10.21BMDΒ 10.21
$2.31β¬1.99
341.99%
Banana(1kg)
$6.20BMDΒ 6.20
$1.70β¬1.46
264.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$8.99BMDΒ 8.99
$2.01β¬1.73
347.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.20BMDΒ 9.20
$2.46β¬2.12
273.98%
Potato(1kg)
$8.42BMDΒ 8.42
$1.84β¬1.59
357.61%
Onion(1kg)
$5.03BMDΒ 5.03
$2.00β¬1.72
151.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.88BMDΒ 5.88
$1.93β¬1.66
204.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.29BMDΒ 3.29
$0.79β¬0.68
316.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.76BMDΒ 17.76
$6.61β¬5.68
168.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.25BMDΒ 25.25
$5.72β¬4.92
341.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.46BMDΒ 5.46
$1.37β¬1.17
298.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53BMDΒ 4.53
$2.97β¬2.56
52.53%
π Getting Around
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.37β¬2.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56β¬39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.24BMDΒ 6.24
$4.29β¬3.69
45.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.82β¬0.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$53.6BMDΒ 53.6
$18.30β¬15.74
192.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30BMDΒ 2.30
$2.06β¬1.78
11.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KBMDΒ 35.5K
$34.3Kβ¬29.5K
3.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KBMDΒ 39.6K
$39.3Kβ¬33.8K
0.66%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238BMDΒ 238
$148β¬127
60.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$120BMDΒ 120
$20.52β¬17.65
483.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$153BMDΒ 153
$39.61β¬34.08
287.07%
π Sport & Entertainment
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$99.6BMDΒ 99.6
$47.85β¬41.16
108.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$76.3BMDΒ 76.3
$18.92β¬16.28
303.28%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36BMDΒ 13.36
$9.18β¬7.90
45.53%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,338BMDΒ 1,338
$614β¬528
117.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.4KBMDΒ 24.4K
$16.0Kβ¬13.8K
51.76%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.17BMDΒ 30.17
$105β¬90.0
-71.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1BMDΒ 61.1
$42.06β¬36.18
45.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136BMDΒ 136
$94.0β¬80.8
44.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125BMDΒ 125
$120β¬103
4.40%
π Accommodation & Living
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,513BMDΒ 2,513
$1,628β¬1,400
54.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,160BMDΒ 2,160
$1,255β¬1,080
72.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,778BMDΒ 3,778
$3,030β¬2,607
24.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,492BMDΒ 3,492
$2,020β¬1,738
72.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800β¬6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273β¬3,675
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Saint George
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603β¬1,379
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
3.81
70.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint George: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,513 in Saint George and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $179 in Saint George vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $753 vs $269 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
Saint George vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Saint George and Lisbon?
Saint George and Lisbon differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($4,430 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Saint George compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $6,646 in Saint George and $3,315 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Saint George and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,513 in Saint George versus $1,628 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 179% higher in Saint George. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Saint George or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $4,430 per month in Saint George versus $2,210 in Lisbon β a 100% 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 Saint George and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Saint George or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Saint George 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: Saint George or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet β expenses run 100% less than in Saint George. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint George vs other spots: cost of living compared