🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Santa Ana versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Santa Ana versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,721 in Santa Ana versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Santa Ana costs roughly 66% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Ana is 41% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.54$2.54
$16.19€14.17
-84.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.73$17.73
$63.3€55.4
-72.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07$5.07
$10.32€9.03
-50.87%
Cappuccino
$2.03$2.03
$2.83€2.48
-28.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73$0.73
$2.29€2.00
-68.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62$0.62
$1.58€1.38
-60.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.06$2.06
$3.40€2.98
-39.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63$2.63
$4.03€3.52
-34.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81$1.81
$1.09€0.95
66.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97$1.97
$1.75€1.53
12.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48$1.48
$1.76€1.54
-15.91%
Eggs
$2.85$2.85
$3.17€2.77
-10.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.95$6.95
$13.19€11.54
-47.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.89$6.89
$7.97€6.97
-13.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86$10.86
$15.53€13.59
-30.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09$3.09
$2.37€2.07
30.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73$1.73
$1.71€1.49
1.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63$2.63
$2.01€1.76
30.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$2.43€2.13
13.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24$2.24
$1.76€1.54
27.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21$2.21
$2.03€1.78
8.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01$1.01
$1.92€1.68
-47.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07$1.07
$0.85€0.74
25.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09$4.09
$6.58€5.76
-37.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.89$11.89
$5.58€4.88
113.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.33€1.17
28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$2.97€2.60
-17.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31$0.31
$2.28€1.99
-86.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.79€40.06
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.43$5.43
$4.23€3.70
28.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.07$3.07
$0.81€0.71
279.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.66$19.66
$18.44€16.13
6.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95$0.95
$2.08€1.82
-54.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K$23.3K
$34.7K€30.3K
-32.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K$28.2K
$39.2K€34.3K
-28.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.38$40.38
$148€130
-72.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.11$19.11
$20.46€17.90
-6.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.83$38.83
$39.56€34.61
-1.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.57$34.57
$47.99€41.99
-27.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.27
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06$5.06
$9.22€8.07
-45.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$148$148
$616€539
-76.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,033$6,033
$16.4K€14.4K
-63.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.9$65.9
$103€89.9
-35.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.77$43.77
$41.74€36.52
4.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117$117
$94.8€82.9
22.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104$104
$122€107
-15.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$306$306
$1,633€1,428
-81.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$149$149
$1,232€1,078
-87.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499$499
$3,098€2,711
-83.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299$299
$2,031€1,777
-85.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,831€6,851
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,389€3,840
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Ana
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$455$455
$1,607€1,406
-71.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.58
3.81
125.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Ana: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $306 in Santa Ana and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 254% 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: $18.00 in Santa Ana vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $267 per month, with Santa Ana 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
Santa Ana vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Santa Ana and in Lisbon?
Santa Ana and Lisbon differ by about 191% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $2,291 including rent). Santa Ana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 254% lower in Lisbon. 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 Santa Ana and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $306 in Santa Ana versus $1,633 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 3% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Santa Ana or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $787 per month in Santa Ana versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 191% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $787 in Santa Ana versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Ana but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Ana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Santa Ana 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: Santa Ana or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Santa Ana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.