😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in St.Catharines versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,194 in St.Catharines versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,107 in St.Catharines versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
😐Living in St.Catharines is roughly 3% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: St.Catharines70% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.10CA$21.00
$15.91€13.70
-5.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.62CA$60.7
$64.8€55.8
-32.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.08CA$15.40
$10.51€9.05
5.42%
Cappuccino
$3.49CA$4.85
$2.87€2.47
21.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.38
$2.24€1.93
-23.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27CA$1.76
$1.50€1.29
-15.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.80CA$6.68
$3.49€3.01
37.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27CA$7.33
$3.88€3.34
35.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12CA$2.95
$1.14€0.98
85.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14CA$2.98
$1.75€1.51
22.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92CA$4.06
$1.76€1.51
65.91%
Eggs
$3.80CA$5.28
$3.22€2.77
18.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.23CA$11.45
$13.49€11.61
-38.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.30CA$12.93
$7.91€6.81
17.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.54CA$20.22
$15.87€13.67
-8.38%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09CA$5.69
$2.31€1.99
77.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02CA$1.41
$1.70€1.46
-40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.35CA$4.66
$2.01€1.73
66.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43CA$4.77
$2.46€2.12
39.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13CA$2.96
$1.84€1.59
15.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19CA$3.04
$2.00€1.72
9.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.88CA$2.61
$1.93€1.66
-2.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13CA$1.57
$0.79€0.68
43.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.18CA$18.32
$6.61€5.69
99.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.21CA$18.37
$5.72€4.93
130.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68CA$3.73
$1.37€1.18
95.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93CA$4.08
$2.97€2.56
-1.35%
🚌 Getting Around
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.16CA$3.00
$2.37€2.04
-8.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.8CA$91.5
$45.56€39.22
44.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87CA$3.99
$4.29€3.69
-33.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26CA$1.76
$0.82€0.70
53.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.42CA$31.18
$18.30€15.76
22.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09CA$1.51
$2.06€1.78
-47.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$35.0K
$34.3K€29.5K
-26.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KCA$28.3K
$39.3K€33.8K
-48.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171CA$237
$148€127
15.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.34CA$47.76
$20.52€17.67
67.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.3CA$72.8
$39.61€34.10
32.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.98CA$41.69
$47.85€41.19
-37.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$43.76CA$60.9
$18.92€16.29
131.29%
Cinema Ticket
$11.99CA$16.67
$9.18€7.91
30.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$752CA$1,046
$614€529
22.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KCA$16.1K
$16.0K€13.8K
-28.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6CA$87.0
$105€90.1
-40.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.68CA$62.1
$42.06€36.21
6.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3CA$103
$94.0€80.9
-20.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3CA$121
$120€103
-27.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,157CA$1,610
$1,628€1,401
-28.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252CA$1,742
$1,255€1,081
-0.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,852CA$2,575
$3,030€2,609
-38.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,699CA$2,363
$2,020€1,739
-15.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,111CA$4,326
$7,800€6,715
-60.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,729CA$3,795
$4,273€3,678
-36.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St.Catharines
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,059CA$4,254
$1,603€1,380
90.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
3.81
70.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for St.Catharines: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,157 in St.Catharines and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰St.Catharines pays 91% 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 St.Catharines vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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
St.Catharines vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in St.Catharines and Lisbon?
St.Catharines and Lisbon differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: St.Catharines or Lisbon?
St.Catharines pays 91% 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 St.Catharines and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,157 in St.Catharines versus $1,628 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 St.Catharines and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $752 in St.Catharines versus $614 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 18% higher in St.Catharines. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,280 in St.Catharines, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in St.Catharines. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between St.Catharines 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 St.Catharines or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, St.Catharines 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: St.Catharines or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in St.Catharines. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
St.Catharines vs other spots: cost of living compared