Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo Este and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo Este and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $792 in Santo Domingo Este versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,354 in Santo Domingo Este versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,916 in Santo Domingo Este versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Santo Domingo Este costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Santo Domingo Este is 41% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60 DOP 501
$16.19 €14.17
-46.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.02 DOP 2,508
$63.3 €55.4
-32.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.59 DOP 442
$10.32 €9.03
-26.45%
Cappuccino
$1.28 DOP 74.4
$2.83 €2.48
-54.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 DOP 58.3
$2.29 €2.00
-56.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 DOP 29.15
$1.58 €1.38
-68.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 DOP 150
$3.40 €2.98
-24.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 DOP 201
$4.03 €3.52
-14.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 DOP 71.3
$1.09 €0.95
11.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 DOP 99.6
$1.75 €1.53
-2.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 DOP 91.8
$1.76 €1.54
-10.80%
Eggs
$1.69 DOP 98.8
$3.17 €2.77
-46.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.28 DOP 425
$13.19 €11.54
-44.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 DOP 211
$7.97 €6.97
-54.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.66 DOP 389
$15.53 €13.59
-57.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 DOP 193
$2.37 €2.07
39.66%
Banana (1kg)
$0.74 DOP 42.98
$1.71 €1.49
-56.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 DOP 113
$2.01 €1.76
-3.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.33 DOP 77.5
$2.43 €2.13
-45.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 DOP 54.8
$1.76 €1.54
-46.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 DOP 102
$2.03 €1.78
-13.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 DOP 64.0
$1.92 €1.68
-42.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 DOP 52.7
$0.85 €0.74
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70 DOP 332
$6.58 €5.76
-13.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.80 DOP 630
$5.58 €4.88
93.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 DOP 97.0
$1.33 €1.17
24.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 DOP 137
$2.97 €2.60
-20.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 DOP 48.05
$2.28 €1.99
-64.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.34 DOP 1,944
$45.79 €40.06
-27.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 DOP 199
$4.23 €3.70
-19.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 DOP 123
$0.81 €0.71
161.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 DOP 354
$18.44 €16.13
-67.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 DOP 71.6
$2.08 €1.82
-40.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K DOP 1.6M
$34.7K €30.3K
-22.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3K DOP 1.8M
$39.2K €34.3K
-20.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.76 DOP 2,377
$148 €130
-72.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.60 DOP 1,026
$20.46 €17.90
-13.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 DOP 2,080
$39.56 €34.61
-9.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.03 DOP 1,634
$47.99 €41.99
-41.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.44 DOP 492
$18.60 €16.27
-54.62%
Cinema Ticket
$5.89 DOP 343
$9.22 €8.07
-36.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$268 DOP 15.6K
$616 €539
-56.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,898 DOP 343.9K
$16.4K €14.4K
-64.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.90 DOP 2,443
$103 €89.9
-59.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 DOP 2,980
$41.74 €36.52
22.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.9 DOP 3,844
$94.8 €82.9
-30.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.7 DOP 3,424
$122 €107
-51.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$454 DOP 26.5K
$1,633 €1,428
-72.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 DOP 9,835
$1,232 €1,078
-86.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,070 DOP 62.4K
$3,098 €2,711
-65.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 DOP 27.6K
$2,031 €1,777
-76.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,831 €6,851
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,389 €3,840
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo Este
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$599 DOP 34.9K
$1,607 €1,406
-62.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.9
3.81
238.58%

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

Last update for Santo Domingo Este: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $454 in Santo Domingo Este and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 168% 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: $43.00 in Santo Domingo Este vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $267 per month, with Santo Domingo Este 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
Santo Domingo Este vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Santo Domingo Este and in Lisbon?
Santo Domingo Este and Lisbon differ by about 189% in total monthly costs ($792 vs $2,291 including rent). Santo Domingo Este 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 168% 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 Santo Domingo Este and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $454 in Santo Domingo Este versus $1,633 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 Santo Domingo Este and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $268 in Santo Domingo Este versus $616 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 38% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $792 in Santo Domingo Este versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santo Domingo Este but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Santo Domingo Este the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Santo Domingo Este 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 Santo Domingo Este or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Santo Domingo Este 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: Santo Domingo Este or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Santo Domingo Este gentler on the wallet – expenses run 189% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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