Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Tecla and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Tecla and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,386 in Santa Tecla versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,013 in Santa Tecla versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,639 in Santa Tecla versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in Santa Tecla costs roughly 40% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santa Tecla 1% above, Lisbon 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.16 $7.16
$17.30 €14.87
-58.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.78 $43.78
$63.3 €54.4
-30.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.87 $6.87
$11.39 €9.79
-39.68%
Cappuccino
$3.51 $3.51
$3.19 €2.74
10.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 $1.15
$2.45 €2.10
-53.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.76 €1.52
-50.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.97 $1.97
$3.59 €3.09
-45.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 $3.60
$3.39 €2.92
6.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.24 €1.06
34.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.98 €1.71
13.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.52 €1.31
-9.87%
Eggs
$2.27 $2.27
$4.04 €3.47
-43.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.65 $7.65
$13.54 €11.64
-43.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$8.39 €7.21
-36.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.22 $10.22
$18.25 €15.69
-44.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.29 €1.97
38.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.74 €1.50
-11.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.86 €1.60
55.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.63 €2.26
10.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.92 €1.65
26.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 $2.43
$2.09 €1.80
16.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.44 €1.24
-27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.84 €0.72
15.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 $3.99
$6.78 €5.83
-41.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.15 $12.15
$5.71 €4.91
112.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.38 €1.18
57.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.22 €1.91
29.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.40 €2.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.78 €40.22
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.09 $6.09
$4.17 €3.59
46.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.14 €0.98
157.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.79 $19.79
$17.68 €15.20
11.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.32 €2.00
-47.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$35.3K €30.4K
-28.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K $27.4K
$41.4K €35.6K
-33.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 $130
$170 €146
-23.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56 $21.56
$19.34 €16.62
11.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.03 $43.03
$33.64 €28.92
27.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.54 $24.54
$48.10 €41.35
-48.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.90 €17.11
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 $5.10
$9.92 €8.53
-48.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 $164
$717 €617
-77.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,762 $4,762
$17.5K €15.0K
-72.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4 $66.4
$105 €90.1
-36.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.83 $46.83
$46.95 €40.36
-0.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 $121
$103 €88.9
16.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$124 €107
-5.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 $763
$1,677 €1,441
-54.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$586 $586
$1,271 €1,093
-53.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,224 $1,224
$2,985 €2,566
-59.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 $903
$1,992 €1,713
-54.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,826 €6,728
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,658 €4,004
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Tecla
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$414 $414
$1,583 €1,361
-73.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
3.79
124.27%

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

Last update for Santa Tecla: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Santa Tecla and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 283% 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: $44.00 in Santa Tecla vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $283 per month, with Santa Tecla 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 Tecla vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Santa Tecla and in Lisbon?
Santa Tecla and Lisbon differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,386 vs $2,316 including rent). Santa Tecla 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 283% 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 Tecla and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Santa Tecla versus $1,677 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 11% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Santa Tecla or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,386 per month in Santa Tecla versus $2,316 in Lisbon – a 67% 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 $1,386 in Santa Tecla versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Tecla but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Tecla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Santa Tecla 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 Tecla or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Santa Tecla 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 Tecla or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Santa Tecla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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