🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $803 in Stilbaai versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,319 in Stilbaai versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Stilbaai versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Stilbaai costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Stilbaai is 40% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.44R 90.0
$16.19€14.17
-66.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.15R 747
$63.3€55.4
-28.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56R 75.5
$10.32€9.03
-55.81%
Cappuccino
$1.37R 22.74
$2.83€2.48
-51.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54R 8.92
$2.29€2.00
-76.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54R 8.92
$1.58€1.38
-65.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82R 46.63
$3.40€2.98
-17.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64R 27.17
$4.03€3.52
-59.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75R 12.37
$1.09€0.95
-31.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54R 9.02
$1.75€1.53
-69.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71R 28.32
$1.76€1.54
-2.84%
Eggs
$2.46R 40.67
$3.17€2.77
-22.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.54R 75.2
$13.19€11.54
-65.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.44R 73.6
$7.97€6.97
-44.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.34R 121
$15.53€13.59
-52.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20R 19.87
$2.37€2.07
-49.37%
Banana(1kg)
$0.80R 13.26
$1.71€1.49
-53.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09R 18.10
$2.01€1.76
-45.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20R 19.82
$2.43€2.13
-50.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36R 5.89
$1.76€1.54
-79.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24R 20.52
$2.03€1.78
-38.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87R 14.43
$1.92€1.68
-54.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58R 9.64
$0.85€0.74
-31.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06R 50.7
$6.58€5.76
-53.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.81R 79.6
$5.58€4.88
-13.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81R 13.49
$1.33€1.17
-39.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09R 18.10
$2.97€2.60
-63.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 27.00
$2.28€1.99
-28.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.79€40.06
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42R 23.53
$4.23€3.70
-66.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26R 4.29
$0.81€0.71
-67.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.61R 76.3
$18.44€16.13
-75.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.65
$2.08€1.82
-39.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.5KR 273.6K
$34.7K€30.3K
-52.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9KR 280.3K
$39.2K€34.3K
-56.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.6R 854
$148€130
-65.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.06R 547
$20.46€17.90
61.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.42R 470
$39.56€34.61
-28.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.21R 517
$47.99€41.99
-34.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.27
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07R 84.0
$9.22€8.07
-45.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$217R 3,588
$616€539
-64.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,103R 18.3K
$16.4K€14.4K
-93.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.23R 467
$103€89.9
-72.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.93R 280
$41.74€36.52
-59.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.3R 932
$94.8€82.9
-40.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.8R 924
$122€107
-54.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369R 6,114
$1,633€1,428
-77.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339R 5,606
$1,232€1,078
-72.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$677R 11.2K
$3,098€2,711
-78.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698R 11.6K
$2,031€1,777
-65.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$885R 14.7K
$7,831€6,851
-88.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$662R 11.0K
$4,389€3,840
-84.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,402R 39.8K
$1,607€1,406
49.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.77
3.81
208.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stilbaai: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $369 in Stilbaai and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stilbaai pays 49% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Stilbaai vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $139 vs $267 per month, with Stilbaai 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
Stilbaai vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stilbaai and in Lisbon?
Stilbaai and Lisbon differ by about 185% in total monthly costs ($803 vs $2,291 including rent). Stilbaai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Stilbaai or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 49% higher in Stilbaai, 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 Stilbaai and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $369 in Stilbaai 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 93% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Stilbaai or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $803 per month in Stilbaai versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 185% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $803 in Stilbaai versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Stilbaai but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Stilbaai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Stilbaai 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 Stilbaai or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Stilbaai 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: Stilbaai or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Stilbaai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 185% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.