🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $801 in Santa Fe versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,216 in Santa Fe versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,632 in Santa Fe versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Santa Fe costs roughly 64% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Fe is 40% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.08ARS 10.1K
$15.91€13.69
-55.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.21ARS 23.1K
$64.8€55.7
-74.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.53ARS 10.7K
$10.51€9.04
-28.35%
Cappuccino
$1.68ARS 2,402
$2.87€2.47
-41.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33ARS 1,893
$2.24€1.93
-40.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16ARS 1,656
$1.50€1.29
-22.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.19ARS 1,694
$3.49€3.00
-65.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56ARS 3,647
$3.88€3.34
-34.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01ARS 1,443
$1.14€0.98
-11.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99ARS 1,412
$1.75€1.51
-43.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79ARS 2,557
$1.76€1.51
1.70%
Eggs
$1.46ARS 2,089
$3.22€2.77
-54.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.97ARS 12.8K
$13.49€11.61
-33.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06ARS 8,643
$7.91€6.81
-23.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.09ARS 11.5K
$15.87€13.65
-49.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89ARS 2,696
$2.31€1.99
-18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08ARS 2,973
$1.70€1.46
22.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92ARS 1,309
$2.01€1.73
-54.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.72ARS 3,886
$2.46€2.12
10.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51ARS 734
$1.84€1.59
-72.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37ARS 1,960
$2.00€1.72
-31.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92ARS 1,319
$1.93€1.66
-52.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86ARS 2,659
$0.79€0.68
135.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.33ARS 4,751
$6.61€5.68
-49.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.86ARS 6,937
$5.72€4.92
-15.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25ARS 1,778
$1.37€1.17
-8.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18ARS 4,535
$2.97€2.56
7.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03ARS 1,462
$2.37€2.04
-56.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99ARS 1,412
$4.29€3.69
-76.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87ARS 1,240
$0.82€0.70
6.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.90ARS 8,410
$18.30€15.74
-67.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07ARS 1,524
$2.06€1.78
-48.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KARS 42.6M
$34.3K€29.5K
-12.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KARS 42.1M
$39.3K€33.8K
-24.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.0ARS 78.5K
$148€127
-62.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.76ARS 11.1K
$20.52€17.65
-62.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.82ARS 21.1K
$39.61€34.08
-62.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.67ARS 56.6K
$47.85€41.16
-17.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.54ARS 19.3K
$18.92€16.28
-28.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.02ARS 7,168
$9.18€7.90
-45.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$221ARS 315.2K
$614€528
-64.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,061ARS 1.5M
$16.0K€13.8K
-93.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.1ARS 88.6K
$105€90.0
-40.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.9ARS 84.0K
$42.06€36.18
39.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108ARS 154.5K
$94.0€80.8
15.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.4ARS 136.0K
$120€103
-20.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$319ARS 454.5K
$1,628€1,400
-80.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200ARS 285.1K
$1,255€1,080
-84.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585ARS 834.3K
$3,030€2,607
-80.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327ARS 467.1K
$2,020€1,738
-83.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,268ARS 1.8M
$7,800€6,709
-83.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,037ARS 1.5M
$4,273€3,675
-75.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$824ARS 1.2M
$1,603€1,379
-48.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
100
3.81
2524.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Fe: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $319 in Santa Fe and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 95% 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: $16.00 in Santa Fe vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $269 per month, with Santa Fe 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 Fe vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Santa Fe and Lisbon?
Santa Fe and Lisbon differ by about 176% in total monthly costs ($801 vs $2,210 including rent). Santa Fe 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 95% 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 Santa Fe and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $319 in Santa Fe 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 31% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Santa Fe or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $801 per month in Santa Fe versus $2,210 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 $2,000 per month?
At $801 in Santa Fe versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Fe but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Fe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Santa Fe 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 Fe or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Santa Fe 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 Fe or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Santa Fe 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.