Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Boroko and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,115 per month in Boroko vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,539 per month in Boroko vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,963 per month in Boroko vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.

Boroko is about 50% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Boroko sits 17% below the global median, while Lisbon is 65% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 PGK 35.01

$15.91 €13.69

-49.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.81 PGK 169

$64.8 €55.7

-40.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.89

$10.51 €9.04

-43.48%

Cappuccino

$2.26 PGK 9.87

$2.87 €2.47

-21.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 PGK 3.54

$2.24 €1.93

-63.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PGK 3.63

$1.50 €1.29

-44.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 PGK 10.67

$3.49 €3.00

-29.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 PGK 18.18

$3.88 €3.34

7.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 PGK 7.11

$1.14 €0.98

42.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 PGK 5.67

$1.75 €1.51

-25.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PGK 5.59

$1.76 €1.51

-27.27%

Eggs

$3.93 PGK 17.16

$3.22 €2.77

22.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.88

$13.49 €11.61

-66.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 PGK 26.64

$7.91 €6.81

-22.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 PGK 31.06

$15.87 €13.65

-55.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 PGK 17.85

$2.31 €1.99

77.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 12.91

$1.70 €1.46

74.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.64

$2.01 €1.73

44.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.63

$2.46 €2.12

17.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 PGK 13.89

$1.84 €1.59

73.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.01

$2.00 €1.72

-54.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 PGK 5.30

$1.93 €1.66

-36.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.18

$0.79 €0.68

-36.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 PGK 26.50

$6.61 €5.68

-8.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 PGK 22.34

$5.72 €4.92

-10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 PGK 5.11

$1.37 €1.17

-14.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 PGK 7.13

$2.97 €2.56

-45.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 PGK 2.15

$2.37 €2.04

-79.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PGK 138

$45.56 €39.19

-30.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PGK 20.87

$4.29 €3.69

11.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 PGK 6.58

$0.82 €0.70

84.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.91 PGK 51.9

$18.30 €15.74

-34.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PGK 3.84

$2.06 €1.78

-57.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K PGK 98.0K

$34.3K €29.5K

-34.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.5K PGK 107.0K

$39.3K €33.8K

-37.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$67.8 PGK 296

$148 €127

-54.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$46.77 PGK 204

$20.52 €17.65

127.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$239 PGK 1,042

$39.61 €34.08

502.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.41 PGK 202

$47.85 €41.16

-3.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 PGK 69.4

$18.92 €16.28

-15.91%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 PGK 30.83

$9.18 €7.90

-22.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$363 PGK 1,584

$614 €528

-40.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,369 PGK 10.3K

$16.0K €13.8K

-85.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.80 PGK 139

$105 €90.0

-69.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.15 PGK 61.7

$42.06 €36.18

-66.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.86 PGK 209

$94.0 €80.8

-49.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.78 PGK 126

$120 €103

-75.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,646 PGK 15.9K

$1,628 €1,400

123.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 PGK 1,053

$1,255 €1,080

-80.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,574 PGK 15.6K

$3,030 €2,607

17.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 PGK 1,044

$2,020 €1,738

-88.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$369 PGK 1,608

$1,603 €1,379

-77.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

188.71%

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

Last update for Boroko: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,646 in Boroko versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 335% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Boroko versus $65.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $269 – making Boroko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Boroko vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon costs about 98% more than Boroko, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,673 per month in Boroko and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Boroko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $363 per month in Boroko and $614 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,115 in Boroko and $2,210 in Lisbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boroko costs $1,115 versus $2,210 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Boroko. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.