Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Ambon versus $2,280 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Ambon versus $3,294 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,373 in Ambon versus $4,307 in Lisbon.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 71% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ambon is 50% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.88 Rp 16.0K
$15.75 €13.64
-94.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.22 Rp 220.6K
$63.5 €55.0
-80.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.36 Rp 60.7K
$10.45 €9.05
-67.85%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 31.3K
$2.91 €2.52
-40.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,186
$2.29 €1.98
-77.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,733
$1.50 €1.30
-82.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 Rp 44.9K
$3.56 €3.09
-30.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 Rp 62.3K
$3.96 €3.43
-12.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 Rp 21.4K
$1.08 €0.94
10.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 Rp 21.0K
$1.76 €1.53
-34.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 Rp 16.8K
$1.70 €1.47
-45.29%
Eggs
$1.55 Rp 27.9K
$3.25 €2.81
-52.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 Rp 147.8K
$13.25 €11.47
-38.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.11 Rp 56.2K
$7.70 €6.67
-59.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.07 Rp 145.7K
$15.77 €13.66
-48.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$2.28 €1.97
2.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
$1.66 €1.43
-9.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 32.8K
$2.02 €1.75
-9.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
$2.47 €2.14
-36.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.9K
$1.79 €1.55
-25.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 34.1K
$2.07 €1.79
-8.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
$1.97 €1.71
-51.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,112
$0.83 €0.72
-45.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54 Rp 45.9K
$6.55 €5.68
-61.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.90 Rp 359.2K
$5.57 €4.82
257.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 Rp 38.4K
$1.33 €1.15
60.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 55.4K
$3.01 €2.60
1.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,778
$2.27 €1.97
-85.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.70 Rp 175.2K
$46.35 €40.14
-79.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 10.3K
$4.23 €3.66
-86.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,736
$0.85 €0.73
-56.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 Rp 53.0K
$18.83 €16.31
-84.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$2.02 €1.75
-58.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 446.0M
$35.0K €30.3K
-29.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K Rp 497.4M
$39.6K €34.3K
-30.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
$148 €128
-52.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.21 Rp 76.0K
$20.52 €17.77
-79.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.67 Rp 409.3K
$39.52 €34.23
-42.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.43 Rp 422.9K
$48.17 €41.72
-51.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00 Rp 108.4K
$18.39 €15.92
-67.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04 Rp 54.8K
$9.10 €7.88
-66.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.5 Rp 1.7M
$615 €532
-85.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,444 Rp 134.4M
$16.3K €14.1K
-54.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.02 Rp 758.5K
$102 €88.0
-58.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.12 Rp 561.7K
$42.09 €36.45
-26.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.9 Rp 1.2M
$92.3 €79.9
-27.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.5 Rp 1.3M
$122 €106
-40.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 Rp 4.7M
$1,612 €1,396
-83.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 Rp 2.9M
$1,254 €1,086
-87.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 Rp 10.5M
$3,069 €2,658
-81.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 Rp 5.9M
$2,037 €1,764
-83.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,166 Rp 21.0M
$7,751 €6,712
-84.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$611 Rp 11.0M
$4,286 €3,712
-85.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.1M
$1,602 €1,387
-89.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
3.81
140.16%

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

Last update for Ambon: July 28, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Ambon and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 844% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Ambon vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $267 per month, with Ambon 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
Ambon vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ambon or Lisbon?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 245% 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 844% lower in Lisbon. 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: $261 in Ambon versus $1,612 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 $661 per month in Ambon versus $2,280 in Lisbon – a 245% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 378% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ambon or in Lisbon?
At $661 in Ambon versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,000 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 is better for digital nomads, Ambon or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $661 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.
How safe is Ambon compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Ambon 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 245% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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