πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $996 in Uitenhage versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,574 in Uitenhage versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,152 in Uitenhage versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Uitenhage costs roughly 56% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Uitenhage is 26% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.70RΒ 141
$15.94β¬13.73
-45.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.21RΒ 537
$63.4β¬54.6
-47.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01RΒ 80.9
$10.38β¬8.95
-51.73%
Cappuccino
$2.02RΒ 32.64
$2.79β¬2.40
-27.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00RΒ 16.17
$2.34β¬2.01
-57.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80RΒ 13.01
$1.57β¬1.35
-49.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28RΒ 36.90
$3.43β¬2.95
-33.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54RΒ 41.00
$3.91β¬3.37
-35.04%
π Groceries & Markets
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15RΒ 18.56
$1.08β¬0.93
6.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00RΒ 16.24
$1.77β¬1.52
-43.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61RΒ 26.11
$1.71β¬1.47
-5.85%
Eggs
$2.39RΒ 38.66
$3.15β¬2.71
-24.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85RΒ 127
$13.68β¬11.79
-42.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.62RΒ 74.7
$8.01β¬6.90
-42.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.69RΒ 108
$15.52β¬13.37
-56.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.60RΒ 25.93
$2.29β¬1.98
-30.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51RΒ 24.49
$1.64β¬1.41
-7.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54RΒ 24.84
$1.94β¬1.67
-20.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62RΒ 26.20
$2.51β¬2.17
-35.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30RΒ 21.10
$1.79β¬1.54
-27.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19RΒ 19.32
$2.01β¬1.73
-40.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08RΒ 17.48
$1.97β¬1.69
-45.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RΒ 14.69
$0.84β¬0.73
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73RΒ 44.07
$6.79β¬5.85
-59.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.69RΒ 59.7
$5.67β¬4.89
-34.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37RΒ 22.15
$1.39β¬1.20
-1.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73RΒ 27.94
$3.02β¬2.60
-42.72%
π Getting Around
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62RΒ 26.15
$2.27β¬1.95
-28.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.44β¬39.15
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15RΒ 18.61
$4.29β¬3.70
-73.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RΒ 14.49
$0.85β¬0.73
5.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.02RΒ 64.9
$18.28β¬15.75
-78.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29RΒ 20.90
$1.99β¬1.71
-35.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KRΒ 347.7K
$35.0Kβ¬30.2K
-38.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1KRΒ 389.4K
$39.5Kβ¬34.1K
-39.09%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120RΒ 1,937
$146β¬126
-18.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.71RΒ 577
$20.45β¬17.62
74.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.48RΒ 687
$38.98β¬33.58
8.98%
π Sport & Entertainment
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.67RΒ 496
$48.98β¬42.21
-37.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83β¬16.22
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.71RΒ 108
$9.52β¬8.21
-29.52%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$193RΒ 3,125
$608β¬524
-68.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,413RΒ 71.3K
$16.5Kβ¬14.2K
-73.28%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6RΒ 817
$104β¬89.5
-51.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.59RΒ 527
$42.12β¬36.29
-22.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2RΒ 1,442
$92.2β¬79.5
-3.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6RΒ 1,270
$120β¬103
-34.54%
π Accommodation & Living
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$359RΒ 5,808
$1,621β¬1,397
-77.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338RΒ 5,460
$1,268β¬1,092
-73.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$689RΒ 11.1K
$3,048β¬2,626
-77.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689RΒ 11.1K
$2,009β¬1,731
-65.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$792RΒ 12.8K
$7,663β¬6,602
-89.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633RΒ 10.2K
$4,329β¬3,730
-85.38%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Uitenhage
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,585β¬1,366
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
3.81
202.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uitenhage: June 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $359 in Uitenhage and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Uitenhage vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $269 per month, with Uitenhage 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
Uitenhage vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Uitenhage and Lisbon?
Uitenhage and Lisbon differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($996 vs $2,263 including rent). Uitenhage is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Uitenhage compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,494 in Uitenhage and $3,394 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Uitenhage and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $359 in Uitenhage versus $1,621 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 54% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Uitenhage or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $996 per month in Uitenhage versus $2,263 in Lisbon β a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $996 in Uitenhage versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Uitenhage but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Uitenhage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Uitenhage and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Uitenhage or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Uitenhage 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: Uitenhage or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Uitenhage gentler on the wallet β expenses run 127% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.