🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $819 in Stilbaai versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,329 in Stilbaai versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,839 in Stilbaai versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Stilbaai costs roughly 63% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Stilbaai is 39% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.52R 89.7
$15.91€13.69
-65.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.44R 722
$64.8€55.7
-31.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.37R 71.1
$10.51€9.04
-58.42%
Cappuccino
$1.39R 22.55
$2.87€2.47
-51.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59R 9.54
$2.24€1.93
-73.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58R 9.37
$1.50€1.29
-61.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.83R 45.94
$3.49€3.00
-18.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71R 27.87
$3.88€3.34
-55.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81R 13.17
$1.14€0.98
-28.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55R 8.98
$1.75€1.51
-68.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64R 26.62
$1.76€1.51
-6.82%
Eggs
$2.38R 38.61
$3.22€2.77
-26.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.51R 73.2
$13.49€11.61
-66.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.38R 71.1
$7.91€6.81
-44.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.56R 123
$15.87€13.65
-52.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22R 19.80
$2.31€1.99
-47.19%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81R 13.12
$1.70€1.46
-52.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13R 18.37
$2.01€1.73
-43.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26R 20.53
$2.46€2.12
-48.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33R 5.30
$1.84€1.59
-82.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18R 19.25
$2.00€1.72
-41.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87R 14.14
$1.93€1.66
-54.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54R 8.78
$0.79€0.68
-31.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17R 51.5
$6.61€5.68
-52.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.86R 79.0
$5.72€4.92
-15.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83R 13.44
$1.37€1.17
-39.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10R 17.85
$2.97€2.56
-62.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60R 26.02
$2.37€2.04
-32.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37R 22.21
$4.29€3.69
-68.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28R 4.57
$0.82€0.70
-65.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.55R 74.0
$18.30€15.74
-75.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26R 20.40
$2.06€1.78
-38.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9KR 274.0K
$34.3K€29.5K
-50.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6KR 269.2K
$39.3K€33.8K
-57.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.1R 847
$148€127
-64.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.16R 539
$20.52€17.65
61.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.81R 452
$39.61€34.08
-29.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.09R 505
$47.85€41.16
-35.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.16R 83.9
$9.18€7.90
-43.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216R 3,506
$614€528
-64.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,114R 18.1K
$16.0K€13.8K
-93.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.55R 448
$105€90.0
-73.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.07R 277
$42.06€36.18
-59.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.0R 893
$94.0€80.8
-41.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.1R 928
$120€103
-52.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$357R 5,804
$1,628€1,400
-78.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340R 5,529
$1,255€1,080
-72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$684R 11.1K
$3,030€2,607
-77.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701R 11.4K
$2,020€1,738
-65.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$844R 13.7K
$7,800€6,709
-89.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$744R 12.1K
$4,273€3,675
-82.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,412R 39.2K
$1,603€1,379
50.39%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $357 in Stilbaai and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stilbaai pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Stilbaai vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $139 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Stilbaai and Lisbon differ by about 170% in total monthly costs ($819 vs $2,210 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?
Stilbaai pays 50% 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 Stilbaai and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $357 in Stilbaai versus $1,628 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 94% 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 $819 per month in Stilbaai versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 170% 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 $819 in Stilbaai versus $2,210 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 170% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.