Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Ambon: $588 a month against $2,206 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $19,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ambon, Indonesia
Lisbon, Portugal
Ambon
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$588
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ambon and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ambon and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $588 in Ambon versus $2,206 in Lisbon.

  • Ambon $588
  • Lisbon $2,206

Estimated couple costs with rent: $995 in Ambon versus $3,276 in Lisbon.

  • Ambon $995
  • Lisbon $3,276

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,401 in Ambon versus $4,346 in Lisbon.

  • Ambon $1,401
  • Lisbon $4,346

Living in Ambon costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ambon is 56% below, Lisbon is 63% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11 Rp 20.2K
$16.86 €14.98
-93.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.28 Rp 259.2K
$61.0 €54.2
-76.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.83 Rp 69.5K
$10.98 €9.75
-65.12%
Cappuccino
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$3.05 €2.71
-51.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,379
$2.28 €2.03
-79.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,002
$1.68 €1.49
-83.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 Rp 40.6K
$3.44 €3.05
-35.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 Rp 62.9K
$3.91 €3.47
-11.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 Rp 18.8K
$1.15 €1.02
-10.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 Rp 17.7K
$1.89 €1.68
-48.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
$1.50 €1.33
-47.33%
Eggs
$1.37 Rp 24.8K
$4.12 €3.66
-66.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.18 Rp 130.3K
$13.01 €11.55
-44.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.85 Rp 51.7K
$8.04 €7.15
-64.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.47 Rp 135.6K
$17.89 €15.89
-58.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 39.5K
$2.27 €2.02
-3.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
$1.74 €1.55
-24.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 29.0K
$1.82 €1.62
-12.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.5K
$2.69 €2.39
-53.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 23.2K
$1.77 €1.57
-27.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.5K
$1.94 €1.72
-2.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
$1.46 €1.30
-45.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,208
$0.76 €0.68
-47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.19 Rp 39.8K
$6.66 €5.91
-67.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.54 Rp 372.9K
$5.64 €5.01
264.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 Rp 32.9K
$1.29 €1.15
40.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 Rp 53.1K
$2.14 €1.90
36.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,558
$2.30 €2.04
-89.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.45 Rp 207.8K
$44.02 €39.10
-73.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 9,159
$3.98 €3.54
-87.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 Rp 5,354
$0.64 €0.57
-54.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 Rp 49.1K
$18.93 €16.81
-85.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
$2.28 €2.02
-64.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 430.3M
$33.4K €29.6K
-28.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K Rp 645.7M
$38.5K €34.2K
-7.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.9 Rp 1.0M
$158 €141
-64.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.62 Rp 102.1K
$17.54 €15.58
-67.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.16 Rp 347.8K
$31.18 €27.70
-38.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.90 Rp 343.0K
$44.64 €39.66
-57.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.07 Rp 128.3K
$18.98 €16.86
-62.75%
Cinema Ticket
$1.41 Rp 25.6K
$9.58 €8.51
-85.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.9 Rp 1.7M
$674 €598
-85.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,975 Rp 162.9M
$18.7K €16.6K
-52.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.58 Rp 791.1K
$102 €90.8
-57.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.84 Rp 505.4K
$45.90 €40.77
-39.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 Rp 1.4M
$102 €90.8
-25.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 Rp 1.3M
$122 €108
-42.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$211 Rp 3.8M
$1,641 €1,457
-87.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$124 Rp 2.3M
$1,187 €1,055
-89.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$612 Rp 11.1M
$2,825 €2,509
-78.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$420 Rp 7.6M
$2,018 €1,793
-79.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,295 Rp 23.5M
$7,836 €6,960
-83.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$756 Rp 13.7M
$4,701 €4,176
-83.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$121 Rp 2.2M
$1,687 €1,499
-92.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.45
3.82
147.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ambon: November 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ambon
$190
Lisbon
$275 44.7% $85
Accommodation & Living
Ambon
$124
Lisbon
$1.2K 854% $1.1K
Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
$98
Lisbon
$168 70.9% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
$81
Lisbon
$207 156% $126
Eating Out
Ambon
$59
Lisbon
$245 314% $186
Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
$22
Lisbon
$64 194% $42
Getting Around
Ambon
$14
Lisbon
$60 319% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Ambon and $1,641 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays about 14 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $14 in Ambon vs $61 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $275 per month, with Ambon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ambon
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
04:03 4:03 AM
19:03 7:03 PM
9 h behind Ambon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
275,888
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18,155 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,353 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.888 EUR (1 EUR = 1.13 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ambon Lisbon 14,210 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ambon
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ambon vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ambon or Lisbon?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 73% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ambon or in Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 93% lower in Ambon. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ambon compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Ambon versus $1,641 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ambon compared to Lisbon?
All in, you’ll spend $588 per month in Ambon versus $2,206 in Lisbon – Ambon is about 73% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Ambon compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 74% less than in Lisbon. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Ambon or in Lisbon?
At $588 in Ambon versus $2,206 in Lisbon, a $800 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ambon or 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.
How safe is Ambon compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Ambon and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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