Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between St John and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $322 in St John versus $2,268 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $929 in St John versus $3,348 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,536 in St John versus $4,429 in Lisbon.

Living in St John costs roughly 86% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: St John is 77% below, Lisbon is 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.94 $19.94

$17.55 €15.09

13.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$177 $177

$64.5 €55.5

173.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 €10.01

Cappuccino

$6.87 $6.87

$3.26 €2.80

110.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.49 €2.14

16.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.67 €1.44

21.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.15 $8.15

$3.47 €2.99

134.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.18 $8.18

$3.58 €3.07

128.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 €1.02

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 €1.67

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 €1.34

Eggs

$4.01 €3.45

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.27 €11.41

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 €7.24

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.23 €15.68

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 €2.00

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 €1.49

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 €1.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 €1.63

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 €1.82

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 €0.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.01 €6.03

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 €5.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 €1.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 €2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.22 €39.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 €3.60

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 €0.94

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.26 €14.84

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

$2.25 €1.93

-30.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.5K €29.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.6K €35.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$171 €147

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.01 €16.34

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.28 €29.48

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 €42.69

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.51 €16.77

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 €8.68

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$699 €601

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K $13.8K

$17.8K €15.3K

-22.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.97 €41.24

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 €110

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,661 €1,428

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 €1,056

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,915 €2,506

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 €1,740

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.8K $12.8K

$8,129 €6,989

57.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,635 €3,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,178 $5,178

$1,619 €1,392

219.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

3.78

86.51%

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

Last update for St John: September 5, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 220% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $177 in St John vs $64.0 in Lisbon for two.

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 John vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St John and Lisbon differ by about 604% in total monthly costs ($322 vs $2,268 including rent). St John is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 220% higher in St John, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in St John – a meal for two runs $177 versus $64.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $322 per month in St John versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 604% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $322 in St John versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes St John the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, St John 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.

Expats usually find St John gentler on the wallet – expenses run 604% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.