🇿🇦 Cape Town vs 🇵🇹 Lisbon
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Cape Town is 49% cheaper than Lisbon
Quick answer
Comparing Cape Town, South Africa and Lisbon, Portugal: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,339 in Cape Town versus $2,604 in Lisbon. Cape Town is roughly 49% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $689/mo (Cape Town) vs $1,466/mo (Lisbon). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,339/mo in Cape Town single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,604/mo in Lisbon single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $689/mo in Cape Town · $1,466/mo in Lisbon.
- Cheaper overall: Cape Town ~49% cheaper than Lisbon.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $950/mo | $1,800/mo | +89% |
| Moderate | $1,339/mo | $2,604/mo | +94% |
| Comfortable | $2,000/mo | $3,900/mo | +95% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $689/mo | $1,466/mo | +113% |
| Groceries & Food | $200/mo | $350/mo | +75% |
| Dining Out | $100/mo | $175/mo | +75% |
| Transport | $100/mo | $175/mo | +75% |
| Utilities & Internet | $100/mo | $175/mo | +75% |
| Healthcare | $80/mo | $140/mo | +75% |
| Leisure & Personal | $70/mo | $123/mo | +76% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Cape Town
$689
Lisbon
$1,466
Groceries & Food
Cape Town
$200
Lisbon
$350
Dining Out
Cape Town
$100
Lisbon
$175
Transport
Cape Town
$100
Lisbon
$175
Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
$100
Lisbon
$175
Healthcare
Cape Town
$80
Lisbon
$140
Leisure & Personal
Cape Town
$70
Lisbon
$123
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: Stats SA, World Bank / INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | +63% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -6% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $3 | +25% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $4 | $7 | +71% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | +20% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunny chow / local meal | $4 | $10 | +116% |
| Fast food combo meal | $4 | $8 | +73% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $2 | -18% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $3 | +32% |
| Wine (glass, restaurant) | $3 | $1 | -67% |
Housing
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (City Bowl) | $689 | $1,466 | +113% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $587 | $800 | +36% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,300 | $2,100 | +62% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $800 | $1,400 | +75% |
Transport
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit (MyCiTi) | $35 | $44 | +26% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $4 | +233% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $80 | $120 | +50% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $30 | $35 | +17% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $40 | +33% |
| Cinema ticket | $6 | $8 | +45% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $8 | $15 | +83% |
Quick Facts
🇿🇦 Cape Town
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,339
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $689/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $5.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $35
- Internet speed
- 60 Mbps
- Safety index
- 38/100(concerns)
- Healthcare index
- 41/100
- Country
- South Africa
🇵🇹 Lisbon
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,604
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,466/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.45
- Inexpensive meal
- $14.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $44
- Internet speed
- 115 Mbps
- Safety index
- 78/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 95/100
- Country
- Portugal
Explore more: Cape Town city guide | Lisbon city guide | South Africa | Portugal
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Town or Lisbon cheaper to live in?
Cape Town is approximately 49% cheaper than Lisbon overall.
How much does it cost to live in Cape Town per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Cape Town is approximately $1,339 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Lisbon is approximately $2,604 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Cape Town and Lisbon?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $689/month in Cape Town and $1,466/month in Lisbon.