Cost of Living Comparison Between Sosua and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Sosua and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,161 in Sosua versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,032 in Sosua versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,903 in Sosua versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sosua costs roughly 49% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sosua is 13% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.63DOP 503
$16.19€14.15
-46.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7DOP 3,013
$63.3€55.3
-18.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.05DOP 410
$10.32€9.02
-31.69%
Cappuccino
$2.63DOP 153
$2.83€2.47
-7.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99DOP 57.9
$2.29€2.00
-56.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83DOP 48.19
$1.58€1.38
-47.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49DOP 145
$3.40€2.97
-26.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06DOP 294
$4.03€3.52
25.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38DOP 80.4
$1.09€0.95
26.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73DOP 101
$1.75€1.53
-1.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16DOP 67.7
$1.76€1.54
-34.09%
Eggs
$1.84DOP 107
$3.17€2.77
-41.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.25DOP 422
$13.19€11.53
-45.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47DOP 377
$7.97€6.96
-18.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64DOP 445
$15.53€13.57
-50.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59DOP 151
$2.37€2.07
9.28%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83DOP 48.43
$1.71€1.49
-51.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89DOP 168
$2.01€1.75
43.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.87DOP 109
$2.43€2.12
-23.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29DOP 133
$1.76€1.54
30.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31DOP 134
$2.03€1.78
13.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04DOP 60.3
$1.92€1.68
-45.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77DOP 44.97
$0.85€0.74
-9.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91DOP 344
$6.58€5.75
-10.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.61DOP 618
$5.58€4.87
90.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61DOP 152
$1.33€1.16
96.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51DOP 146
$2.97€2.60
-15.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69DOP 40.32
$2.28€1.99
-69.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.79€40.01
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.33DOP 194
$4.23€3.69
-21.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22DOP 129
$0.81€0.71
174.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.88DOP 343
$18.44€16.11
-68.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33DOP 77.6
$2.08€1.82
-36.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KDOP 1.6M
$34.7K€30.3K
-22.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KDOP 1.9M
$39.2K€34.2K
-17.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.9DOP 4,361
$148€129
-49.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.57DOP 1,198
$20.46€17.88
0.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.93DOP 2,093
$39.56€34.56
-9.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.20DOP 1,468
$47.99€41.93
-47.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.25
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.70DOP 390
$9.22€8.06
-27.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267DOP 15.5K
$616€538
-56.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,378DOP 371.4K
$16.4K€14.4K
-61.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9DOP 3,433
$103€89.7
-42.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8DOP 2,960
$41.74€36.47
21.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.2DOP 5,661
$94.8€82.8
2.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117DOP 6,827
$122€107
-3.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459DOP 26.7K
$1,633€1,426
-71.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479DOP 27.9K
$1,232€1,077
-61.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,464DOP 85.2K
$3,098€2,707
-52.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,290DOP 75.1K
$2,031€1,775
-36.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,873DOP 109.1K
$7,831€6,842
-76.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,815DOP 105.7K
$4,389€3,835
-58.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sosua
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,607€1,404
-
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 Sosua: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $459 in Sosua and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Sosua vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $267 per month, with Sosua 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
Sosua vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sosua and in Lisbon?
Sosua and Lisbon differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($1,161 vs $2,291 including rent). Sosua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Sosua compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,742 in Sosua and $3,437 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Sosua and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $459 in Sosua versus $1,633 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 20% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sosua or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,161 per month in Sosua versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 97% 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 $1,161 in Sosua versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sosua but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sosua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sosua 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 Sosua or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sosua 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: Sosua or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sosua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.