🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $883 in Stilbaai versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Stilbaai versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,050 in Stilbaai versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Stilbaai costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Stilbaai is 35% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.30R 102
$17.59€15.31
-64.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.97R 812
$62.9€54.7
-20.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86R 78.9
$11.58€10.08
-58.03%
Cappuccino
$1.54R 24.95
$3.10€2.70
-50.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60R 9.76
$2.49€2.17
-75.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62R 10.06
$1.74€1.52
-64.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21R 52.2
$3.48€3.03
-7.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93R 31.31
$3.44€3.00
-43.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92R 14.91
$1.15€1.00
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62R 10.03
$1.91€1.66
-67.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83R 29.65
$1.50€1.31
22.00%
Eggs
$3.09R 50.1
$3.98€3.47
-22.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.98R 81.0
$13.29€11.57
-62.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.08R 82.5
$8.01€6.97
-36.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.44R 137
$18.04€15.70
-53.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40R 22.75
$2.35€2.05
-40.43%
Banana(1kg)
$0.91R 14.84
$1.75€1.52
-48.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23R 19.98
$1.85€1.61
-33.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35R 22.00
$2.55€2.22
-47.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39R 6.35
$1.84€1.60
-78.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61R 26.10
$2.10€1.83
-23.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90R 14.55
$1.49€1.29
-39.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65R 10.53
$0.82€0.71
-20.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.66R 59.5
$7.10€6.18
-48.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.04R 81.9
$5.91€5.14
-14.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R 16.02
$1.31€1.14
-24.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28R 20.82
$2.13€1.86
-39.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58R 25.61
$2.36€2.05
-33.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.57
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66R 10.70
$4.08€3.55
-83.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32R 5.22
$1.14€0.99
-71.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.18R 84.1
$17.09€14.88
-69.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41R 22.92
$2.31€2.01
-38.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KR 308.0K
$34.1K€29.7K
-44.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7KR 304.5K
$41.4K€36.0K
-54.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.5R 917
$169€147
-66.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.70R 515
$19.33€16.83
63.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.77R 516
$33.51€29.17
-5.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.76R 532
$48.84€42.51
-32.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43€16.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.58R 90.7
$9.57€8.33
-41.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$271R 4,401
$696€606
-61.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,260R 20.5K
$17.4K€15.1K
-92.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.95R 503
$105€91.7
-70.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.05R 309
$47.75€41.56
-60.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.9R 1,006
$101€87.5
-38.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.5R 998
$124€108
-50.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$433R 7,037
$1,662€1,446
-73.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373R 6,053
$1,246€1,085
-70.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$808R 13.1K
$2,965€2,580
-72.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$769R 12.5K
$2,049€1,783
-62.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$903R 14.7K
$7,834€6,819
-88.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$682R 11.1K
$4,464€3,886
-84.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stilbaai
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,512R 40.8K
$1,632€1,420
53.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.02
3.78
191.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stilbaai: September 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Stilbaai and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stilbaai pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Stilbaai vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $277 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 160% in total monthly costs ($883 vs $2,296 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 54% 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: $433 in Stilbaai versus $1,662 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 75% 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 $883 per month in Stilbaai versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 160% 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 $883 in Stilbaai versus $2,296 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 160% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.