🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,998 in Sint-Niklaas versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,955 in Sint-Niklaas versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,913 in Sint-Niklaas versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Sint-Niklaas costs roughly 12% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sint-Niklaas49% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.12€19.92
$15.94€13.73
45.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.8€79.9
$63.4€54.6
46.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.97€11.17
$10.38€8.95
24.95%
Cappuccino
$4.07€3.50
$2.79€2.40
45.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€2.97
$2.34€2.01
47.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15€2.72
$1.57€1.35
100.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.90€4.22
$3.43€2.95
42.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93€3.39
$3.91€3.37
0.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.14
$1.08€0.93
23.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10€1.81
$1.77€1.52
18.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.68€2.31
$1.71€1.47
56.73%
Eggs
$3.56€3.07
$3.15€2.71
13.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.00€10.34
$13.68€11.79
-12.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.71€10.09
$8.01€6.90
46.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.60€15.16
$15.52€13.37
13.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70€2.33
$2.29€1.98
17.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$1.64€1.41
43.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$1.94€1.67
7.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.68€2.31
$2.51€2.17
6.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19€1.89
$1.79€1.54
22.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.01€1.73
-14.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.22
$1.97€1.69
-28.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.84€0.73
-2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.53€10.80
$6.79€5.85
84.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.63€6.57
$5.67€4.89
34.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.39€1.20
26.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.65
$3.02€2.60
-36.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.83€2.44
$2.27€1.95
24.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.5€49.51
$45.44€39.15
26.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.96€5.14
$4.29€3.70
38.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.53€2.18
$0.85€0.73
197.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.81€30.00
$18.28€15.75
90.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.99€1.71
-4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K€26.4K
$35.0K€30.2K
-12.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K€24.4K
$39.5K€34.1K
-28.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$197€170
$146€126
35.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.56€22.02
$20.45€17.62
24.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.02€41.37
$38.98€33.58
23.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.20€32.91
$48.98€42.21
-22.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98€14.63
$18.83€16.22
-9.82%
Cinema Ticket
$14.56€12.54
$9.52€8.21
52.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$671€578
$608€524
10.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.4K
$16.5K€14.2K
-19.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111€95.7
$104€89.5
6.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.65€41.92
$42.12€36.29
15.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118€101
$92.2€79.5
27.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170€147
$120€103
41.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$856€737
$1,621€1,397
-47.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$766€660
$1,268€1,092
-39.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,222€1,053
$3,048€2,626
-59.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,004€865
$2,009€1,731
-50.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,350€2,887
$7,663€6,602
-56.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,036€2,616
$4,329€3,730
-29.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sint-Niklaas
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,299€1,981
$1,585€1,366
45.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
3.81
-14.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sint-Niklaas: June 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $856 in Sint-Niklaas and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sint-Niklaas pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $93.0 in Sint-Niklaas vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon 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
Sint-Niklaas vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sint-Niklaas and Lisbon?
Sint-Niklaas and Lisbon differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,998 vs $2,263 including rent). Sint-Niklaas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sint-Niklaas or Lisbon?
Sint-Niklaas pays 45% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Sint-Niklaas and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $856 in Sint-Niklaas versus $1,621 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 Sint-Niklaas and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $671 in Sint-Niklaas versus $608 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,998 in Sint-Niklaas versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sint-Niklaas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sint-Niklaas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sint-Niklaas 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 Sint-Niklaas or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sint-Niklaas 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: Sint-Niklaas or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sint-Niklaas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sint-Niklaas vs other spots: cost of living compared