🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,571 in Saint-Joseph versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,241 in Saint-Joseph versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,911 in Saint-Joseph versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Saint-Joseph costs roughly 29% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint-Joseph17% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.55€9.93
$15.91€13.69
-27.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4€50.3
$64.8€55.7
-9.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.06
$10.51€9.04
0.19%
Cappuccino
$2.28€1.96
$2.87€2.47
-20.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.05
$2.24€1.93
58.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.96
$1.50€1.29
52.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.52€3.02
$3.49€3.00
0.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66€4.01
$3.88€3.34
20.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89€1.63
$1.14€0.98
65.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37€1.18
$1.75€1.51
-21.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.76€1.51
-
Eggs
$5.69€4.90
$3.22€2.77
76.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.77€4.96
$13.49€11.61
-57.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.02€7.76
$7.91€6.81
14.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.58€15.12
$15.87€13.65
10.78%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.31€1.99
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.70€1.46
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.01€1.73
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.46€2.12
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.84€1.59
-
Onion(1kg)
$3.51€3.02
$2.00€1.72
75.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.93€1.66
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.01
$0.79€0.68
194.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.14€14.74
$6.61€5.68
159.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.41€8.10
$5.72€4.92
64.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26€1.95
$1.37€1.17
64.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42€2.94
$2.97€2.56
15.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.01
$2.37€2.04
-1.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.50€34.84
$45.56€39.19
-11.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.29€3.69
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.82€0.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$18.30€15.74
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30€1.97
$2.06€1.78
11.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.3K€29.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$39.3K€33.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€195
$148€127
53.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$20.52€17.65
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.87€40.32
$39.61€34.08
18.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.60€20.30
$47.85€41.16
-50.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.59€9.97
$9.18€7.90
26.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$614€528
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.0K€13.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5€59.8
$105€90.0
-33.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.92€19.71
$42.06€36.18
-45.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.5€78.7
$94.0€80.8
-2.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$173€149
$120€103
44.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$702€604
$1,628€1,400
-56.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$574€494
$1,255€1,080
-54.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061€913
$3,030€2,607
-64.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$805€693
$2,020€1,738
-60.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Joseph
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,411€1,214
$1,603€1,379
-12.01%
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 Saint-Joseph: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $702 in Saint-Joseph and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 14% 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: $58.0 in Saint-Joseph vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $269 per month, with Saint-Joseph 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-Joseph vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Saint-Joseph and Lisbon?
Saint-Joseph and Lisbon differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,571 vs $2,210 including rent). Saint-Joseph is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 14% less. 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 Saint-Joseph and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $702 in Saint-Joseph 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 11% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Saint-Joseph or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,571 per month in Saint-Joseph versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 41% 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 $1,571 in Saint-Joseph versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Saint-Joseph but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Saint-Joseph the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Saint-Joseph 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 Saint-Joseph or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Saint-Joseph 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-Joseph or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Saint-Joseph gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint-Joseph vs other spots: cost of living compared