🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $808 in Saint-Louis versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,294 in Saint-Louis versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,780 in Saint-Louis versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Saint-Louis costs roughly 64% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Saint-Louis is 40% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.49F CFA 1,953
$16.17€13.81
-78.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.3F CFA 29.9K
$64.6€55.1
-17.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40F CFA 5,829
$10.38€8.86
0.19%
Cappuccino
$4.54F CFA 2,544
$2.77€2.37
63.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86F CFA 481
$2.25€1.92
-61.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08F CFA 608
$1.57€1.34
-31.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77F CFA 992
$3.49€2.98
-49.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35F CFA 2,434
$4.00€3.42
8.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.54F CFA 1,423
$1.08€0.93
135.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25F CFA 139
$1.74€1.49
-85.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66F CFA 933
$1.74€1.48
-4.60%
Eggs
$2.70F CFA 1,512
$3.18€2.71
-15.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.45F CFA 6,975
$13.43€11.47
-7.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.20F CFA 5,153
$7.99€6.83
15.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.95F CFA 6,135
$16.09€13.74
-31.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82F CFA 1,579
$2.28€1.95
23.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91F CFA 1,070
$1.72€1.47
11.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64F CFA 1,479
$1.94€1.66
36.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12F CFA 1,190
$2.54€2.17
-16.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48F CFA 830
$1.83€1.56
-19.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30F CFA 727
$2.04€1.74
-36.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02F CFA 572
$1.98€1.69
-48.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74F CFA 413
$0.85€0.73
-12.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.63F CFA 913
$6.85€5.85
-76.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.90F CFA 8,348
$5.78€4.93
157.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17F CFA 656
$1.37€1.17
-14.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35F CFA 1,314
$2.90€2.48
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.28€1.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.84€40.00
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92F CFA 515
$4.08€3.48
-77.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.83F CFA 1,588
$0.82€0.70
245.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.66F CFA 9,893
$18.27€15.60
-3.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77F CFA 990
$2.01€1.71
-11.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3KF CFA 20.9M
$35.3K€30.1K
5.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$50.1KF CFA 28.1M
$38.5K€32.9K
30.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137F CFA 76.6K
$145€124
-5.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.46F CFA 5,298
$20.96€17.90
-54.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.92F CFA 27.4K
$40.05€34.21
22.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.79€41.66
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69€15.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06F CFA 5,073
$9.06€7.74
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267F CFA 149.4K
$607€518
-56.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,192F CFA 4.0M
$16.3K€13.9K
-55.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6F CFA 39.0K
$105€89.4
-33.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.88F CFA 24.6K
$40.95€34.97
7.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102F CFA 57.4K
$93.6€79.9
9.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130F CFA 72.6K
$119€101
9.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440F CFA 246.4K
$1,604€1,370
-72.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,236€1,055
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,046€2,601
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,057€1,756
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,709€6,583
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,266€3,644
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Louis
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,584€1,353
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Saint-Louis and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53 in Saint-Louis vs $65 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $271 per month, with Saint-Louis 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-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 176% in total monthly costs ($808 vs $2,227 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 $1,212 in Saint-Louis and $3,341 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: $440 in Saint-Louis versus $1,604 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 1% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Saint-Louis or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $808 per month in Saint-Louis versus $2,227 in Lisbon – a 176% 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 $808 in Saint-Louis versus $2,227 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 176% 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