🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,056 in Santa Fe versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,621 in Santa Fe versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,186 in Santa Fe versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Santa Fe costs roughly 53% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Fe is 23% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.12ARS 15.3K
$17.55€15.12
-42.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.79ARS 57.0K
$64.5€55.6
-41.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.60ARS 19.0K
$11.65€10.04
8.15%
Cappuccino
$1.78ARS 2,682
$3.26€2.81
-45.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50ARS 2,255
$2.49€2.15
-39.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38ARS 2,074
$1.67€1.44
-17.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36ARS 5,066
$3.47€2.99
-3.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10ARS 7,699
$3.58€3.08
42.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02ARS 1,532
$1.18€1.02
-13.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59ARS 2,397
$1.95€1.68
-18.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02ARS 1,543
$1.56€1.35
-34.62%
Eggs
$1.54ARS 2,327
$4.01€3.46
-61.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29ARS 12.5K
$13.27€11.44
-37.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11ARS 9,222
$8.42€7.26
-27.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.38ARS 15.7K
$18.23€15.72
-43.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00ARS 3,011
$2.32€2.00
-13.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53ARS 2,313
$1.73€1.49
-11.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87ARS 1,310
$1.93€1.67
-54.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42ARS 3,644
$2.64€2.27
-8.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.54ARS 821
$1.90€1.64
-71.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69ARS 1,040
$2.11€1.82
-67.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02ARS 1,537
$1.44€1.24
-29.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03ARS 1,550
$0.80€0.69
28.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22ARS 4,857
$7.01€6.04
-54.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.82ARS 7,269
$5.92€5.11
-18.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26ARS 1,903
$1.36€1.18
-7.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04ARS 3,084
$2.15€1.85
-5.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02ARS 1,545
$2.38€2.05
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.22€39.85
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01ARS 1,527
$4.19€3.61
-75.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98ARS 1,475
$1.10€0.95
-10.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.30ARS 11.0K
$17.26€14.88
-57.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15ARS 1,733
$2.25€1.94
-48.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KARS 30.2M
$34.5K€29.7K
-41.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KARS 45.4M
$41.6K€35.9K
-27.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.7ARS 91.6K
$171€147
-64.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.75ARS 29.8K
$19.01€16.38
3.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.87ARS 31.5K
$34.28€29.55
-39.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.07ARS 51.4K
$49.65€42.80
-31.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.51€16.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.75ARS 7,162
$10.10€8.71
-52.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300ARS 453.3K
$699€603
-57.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,212ARS 6.4M
$17.8K€15.3K
-76.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4ARS 133.4K
$105€90.2
-15.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0ARS 92.1K
$47.97€41.35
27.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118ARS 178.0K
$102€87.8
15.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139ARS 209.6K
$128€111
8.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512ARS 772.2K
$1,661€1,432
-69.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366ARS 551.4K
$1,228€1,059
-70.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$903ARS 1.4M
$2,915€2,513
-69.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$592ARS 892.4K
$2,023€1,744
-70.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,384ARS 3.6M
$8,129€7,007
-70.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,635€3,996
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Fe
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$826ARS 1.2M
$1,619€1,396
-48.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
56.56
3.78
1396.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Fe: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Santa Fe and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 96% 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: $38.00 in Santa Fe vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $281 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 in Lisbon?
Santa Fe and Lisbon differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($1,056 vs $2,268 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, salaries run 96% 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 Fe and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Santa Fe versus $1,661 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 43% 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 $1,056 per month in Santa Fe versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 115% 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 $1,056 in Santa Fe versus $2,268 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 115% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.