Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in San Fernando, La Union: $719 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $18,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Fernando, La Union
🇵🇭 Philippines
$719
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Fernando, La Union and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in San Fernando, La Union and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $719 in San Fernando, La Union versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • San Fernando, La Union $719
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,102 in San Fernando, La Union versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • San Fernando, La Union $1,102
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,485 in San Fernando, La Union versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • San Fernando, La Union $1,485
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in San Fernando, La Union costs roughly 68% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Fernando, La Union is 47% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93 ₱248
$16.50 €14.67
-76.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.86 ₱936
$61.3 €54.5
-75.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.45 ₱154
$11.27 €10.03
-78.26%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ₱121
$3.06 €2.72
-37.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.53
$2.26 €2.01
-72.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₱18.67
$1.73 €1.54
-82.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.15 ₱72.3
$3.39 €3.02
-66.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₱112
$3.40 €3.02
-47.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 ₱106
$1.12 €1.00
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 ₱67.7
$1.86 €1.65
-41.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 ₱65.0
$1.53 €1.36
-32.68%
Eggs
$1.93 ₱122
$3.96 €3.53
-51.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.38 ₱402
$12.76 €11.35
-50.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ₱238
$7.90 €7.02
-52.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.48 ₱471
$16.97 €15.09
-55.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 ₱150
$2.27 €2.02
4.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 ₱101
$1.75 €1.55
-8.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 ₱170
$1.85 €1.64
46.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 ₱76.1
$2.57 €2.28
-52.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 ₱142
$1.86 €1.65
21.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 ₱131
$2.02 €1.80
2.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 ₱62.8
$1.44 €1.28
-30.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₱36.41
$0.82 €0.73
-29.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₱187
$6.56 €5.83
-54.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.16 ₱451
$5.62 €5.00
27.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₱70.0
$1.28 €1.14
-13.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ₱103
$2.07 €1.84
-21.26%
🚌 Getting Around
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.89
$2.35 €2.09
-89.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.92 ₱687
$44.18 €39.30
-75.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 ₱51.2
$3.99 €3.55
-79.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.52
$1.09 €0.97
-80.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.77 ₱111
$16.64 €14.81
-89.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 ₱64.5
$2.28 €2.03
-55.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ₱1.3M
$33.7K €30.0K
-37.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K ₱1.1M
$39.3K €35.0K
-53.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₱6,863
$167 €149
-34.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.96 ₱1,068
$18.80 €16.72
-9.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.32 ₱1,720
$33.09 €29.43
-17.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.83 ₱2,067
$46.01 €40.93
-28.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.60 ₱290
$19.19 €17.07
-76.03%
Cinema Ticket
$5.76 ₱363
$9.84 €8.75
-41.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$114 ₱7,179
$677 €602
-83.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,119 ₱574.1K
$16.9K €15.1K
-46.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.24 ₱2,093
$101 €90.1
-67.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.66 ₱1,112
$45.76 €40.70
-61.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 ₱4,524
$100.0 €88.9
-28.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.6 ₱3,503
$123 €109
-54.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 ₱16.5K
$1,614 €1,436
-83.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 ₱10.7K
$1,197 €1,065
-85.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 ₱32.8K
$2,862 €2,545
-81.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 ₱22.7K
$1,990 €1,770
-81.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,558 ₱161.1K
$7,577 €6,740
-66.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,037 ₱65.3K
$4,307 €3,831
-75.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Fernando, La Union
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,588 €1,412
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
3.85
76.36%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: October 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
San Fernando, La Union
$183
Lisbon
$269 47% $86
Accommodation & Living
San Fernando, La Union
$169
Lisbon
$1.2K 607% $1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Fernando, La Union
$153
Lisbon
$219 43.1% $66
Clothing & Footwear
San Fernando, La Union
$80
Lisbon
$166 107% $86
Eating Out
San Fernando, La Union
$75
Lisbon
$242 224% $167
Sport & Entertainment
San Fernando, La Union
$44
Lisbon
$66 48.1% $21
Getting Around
San Fernando, La Union
$14
Lisbon
$63 356% $49

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in San Fernando, La Union and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $269 per month, with San Fernando, La Union cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
08:16 8:16 AM
01:16 1:16 AM
7 h behind San Fernando, La Union
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
83,003
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Fernando, La Union Lisbon 11,920 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Fernando, La Union
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
San Fernando, La Union vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in San Fernando, La Union and in Lisbon?
San Fernando, La Union and Lisbon differ by about 209% in total monthly costs ($719 vs $2,223 including rent). San Fernando, La Union is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in San Fernando, La Union compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,079 in San Fernando, La Union and $3,335 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 San Fernando, La Union and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in San Fernando, La Union versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between San Fernando, La Union and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $114 in San Fernando, La Union versus $677 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $719 in San Fernando, La Union versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Fernando, La Union but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes San Fernando, La Union the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between San Fernando, La Union 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 San Fernando, La Union or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, San Fernando, La Union 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: San Fernando, La Union or Lisbon?
Expats usually find San Fernando, La Union gentler on the wallet – expenses run 209% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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