🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Saint-Louis versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,287 in Saint-Louis versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,786 in Saint-Louis versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Saint-Louis costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Saint-Louis is 41% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.63F CFA 2,051
$15.94€13.73
-77.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8F CFA 29.8K
$63.4€54.6
-16.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30F CFA 5,819
$10.38€8.95
-0.77%
Cappuccino
$4.50F CFA 2,544
$2.79€2.40
61.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89F CFA 503
$2.34€2.01
-61.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05F CFA 596
$1.57€1.35
-33.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74F CFA 982
$3.43€2.95
-49.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39F CFA 2,479
$3.91€3.37
12.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.65F CFA 1,499
$1.08€0.93
145.37%
White Bread(500g)
$0.27F CFA 153
$1.77€1.52
-84.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62F CFA 914
$1.71€1.47
-5.26%
Eggs
$2.70F CFA 1,524
$3.15€2.71
-14.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.72F CFA 7,186
$13.68€11.79
-7.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32F CFA 5,262
$8.01€6.90
16.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.91F CFA 6,160
$15.52€13.37
-29.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81F CFA 1,586
$2.29€1.98
22.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96F CFA 1,109
$1.64€1.41
19.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59F CFA 1,463
$1.94€1.67
33.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16F CFA 1,218
$2.51€2.17
-13.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54F CFA 873
$1.79€1.54
-13.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28F CFA 721
$2.01€1.73
-36.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07F CFA 603
$1.97€1.69
-45.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74F CFA 416
$0.84€0.73
-11.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57F CFA 887
$6.79€5.85
-76.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.70F CFA 8,304
$5.67€4.89
159.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14F CFA 645
$1.39€1.20
-17.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33F CFA 1,315
$3.02€2.60
-22.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.27€1.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.44€39.15
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84F CFA 475
$4.29€3.70
-80.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74F CFA 1,549
$0.85€0.73
222.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.30F CFA 9,769
$18.28€15.75
-5.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71F CFA 965
$1.99€1.71
-14.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2KF CFA 20.5M
$35.0K€30.2K
3.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$49.3KF CFA 27.8M
$39.5K€34.1K
24.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137F CFA 77.6K
$146€126
-5.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.46F CFA 5,344
$20.45€17.62
-53.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.36F CFA 27.9K
$38.98€33.58
26.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.98€42.21
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83€16.22
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.76F CFA 4,949
$9.52€8.21
-7.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263F CFA 148.4K
$608€524
-56.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,388F CFA 4.2M
$16.5K€14.2K
-55.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8F CFA 38.9K
$104€89.5
-33.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.13F CFA 24.9K
$42.12€36.29
4.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102F CFA 57.5K
$92.2€79.5
10.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128F CFA 72.3K
$120€103
6.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$434F CFA 245.0K
$1,621€1,397
-73.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,268€1,092
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,048€2,626
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,009€1,731
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,663€6,602
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,329€3,730
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,585€1,366
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.25
3.81
116.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint-Louis: June 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $434 in Saint-Louis and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Saint-Louis vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $269, with Lisbon 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
Saint-Louis vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Saint-Louis and Lisbon?
Saint-Louis and Lisbon differ by about 187% in total monthly costs ($788 vs $2,263 including rent). Saint-Louis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Saint-Louis compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,182 in Saint-Louis and $3,394 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-Louis and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $434 in Saint-Louis versus $1,621 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 Lisbon pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Saint-Louis or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $788 per month in Saint-Louis versus $2,263 in Lisbon – a 187% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $788 in Saint-Louis versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saint-Louis but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Saint-Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Saint-Louis 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-Louis or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Saint-Louis 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-Louis or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Saint-Louis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 187% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint-Louis vs other spots: cost of living compared