Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $653 in Ambon versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,004 in Ambon versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,354 in Ambon versus $4,368 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 51% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$15.94€13.73
-94.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.09Rp 216.5K
$63.4€54.6
-80.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$10.38€8.95
-68.02%
Cappuccino
$1.73Rp 31.0K
$2.79€2.40
-37.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,159
$2.34€2.01
-78.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,266
$1.57€1.35
-84.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.8K
$3.43€2.95
-27.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52Rp 63.0K
$3.91€3.37
-9.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.1K
$1.08€0.93
9.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 21.1K
$1.77€1.52
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$1.71€1.47
-47.37%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.2K
$3.15€2.71
-51.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30Rp 148.7K
$13.68€11.79
-39.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.15Rp 56.4K
$8.01€6.90
-60.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83Rp 140.3K
$15.52€13.37
-49.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.7K
$2.29€1.98
3.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$1.64€1.41
-12.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.8K
$1.94€1.67
-2.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$2.51€2.17
-40.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$1.79€1.54
-26.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.5K
$2.01€1.73
-6.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.5K
$1.97€1.69
-50.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,379
$0.84€0.73
-51.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$6.79€5.85
-62.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.05Rp 377.1K
$5.67€4.89
271.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 36.0K
$1.39€1.20
44.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 57.2K
$3.02€2.60
5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,312
$2.27€1.95
-86.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.55Rp 171.1K
$45.44€39.15
-78.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$4.29€3.70
-86.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,770
$0.85€0.73
-55.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.00Rp 53.7K
$18.28€15.75
-83.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$1.99€1.71
-58.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 433.1M
$35.0K€30.2K
-31.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 500.8M
$39.5K€34.1K
-29.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.6Rp 1.2M
$146€126
-53.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24Rp 75.9K
$20.45€17.62
-79.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.52Rp 403.5K
$38.98€33.58
-42.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.02Rp 412.4K
$48.98€42.21
-53.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.22Rp 111.4K
$18.83€16.22
-66.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16Rp 56.6K
$9.52€8.21
-66.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.2Rp 1.7M
$608€524
-84.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,658Rp 137.2M
$16.5K€14.2K
-53.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09Rp 754.1K
$104€89.5
-59.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27Rp 542.2K
$42.12€36.29
-28.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.4Rp 1.2M
$92.2€79.5
-26.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.7Rp 1.3M
$120€103
-37.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$1,621€1,397
-83.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.9M
$1,268€1,092
-87.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575Rp 10.3M
$3,048€2,626
-81.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$2,009€1,731
-83.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,330Rp 23.8M
$7,663€6,602
-82.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$685Rp 12.3M
$4,329€3,730
-84.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
$1,585€1,366
-89.34%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Ambon and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 838% 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 $208 vs $269 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 246% 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 Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 838% less. 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 vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Ambon versus $1,621 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 $653 per month in Ambon versus $2,263 in Lisbon – a 246% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon vs Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 376% 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 Lisbon?
At $653 in Ambon versus $2,263 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 $653 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 246% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.