Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $623 in Calama versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,267 in Calama versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,912 in Calama versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Calama costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Calama is 55% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.43CLP 6,990
$17.55€15.12
-57.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.77CLP 31.8K
$64.5€55.6
-47.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.65€10.04
-
Cappuccino
$2.12CLP 1,994
$3.26€2.81
-34.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92CLP 869
$2.49€2.15
-63.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94CLP 880
$1.67€1.44
-43.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23CLP 3,038
$3.47€2.99
-6.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30CLP 4,987
$3.58€3.08
48.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19CLP 1,123
$1.18€1.02
0.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85CLP 796
$1.95€1.68
-56.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.72CLP 2,561
$1.56€1.35
74.36%
Eggs
$5.01CLP 4,714
$4.01€3.46
24.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.51CLP 8,955
$13.27€11.44
-28.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.57CLP 6,187
$8.42€7.26
-21.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.87CLP 7,406
$18.23€15.72
-56.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25CLP 1,173
$2.32€2.00
-46.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09CLP 1,024
$1.73€1.49
-36.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62CLP 1,525
$1.93€1.67
-16.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17CLP 1,101
$2.64€2.27
-55.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99CLP 934
$1.90€1.64
-47.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04CLP 982
$2.11€1.82
-50.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.44€1.24
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.80€0.69
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34CLP 5,024
$7.01€6.04
-23.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.38CLP 4,120
$5.92€5.11
-26.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09CLP 1,026
$1.36€1.18
-19.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29CLP 1,215
$2.15€1.85
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94CLP 887
$2.38€2.05
-60.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.22€39.85
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.19€3.61
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49CLP 1,399
$1.10€0.95
35.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$17.26€14.88
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57CLP 1,480
$2.25€1.94
-30.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.5K€29.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$41.6K€35.9K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.85CLP 40.3K
$171€147
-74.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$19.01€16.38
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.75CLP 12.9K
$34.28€29.55
-59.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1CLP 50.0K
$49.65€42.80
6.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.07CLP 19.8K
$19.51€16.81
8.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.87CLP 4,588
$10.10€8.71
-51.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320CLP 301.5K
$699€603
-54.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$17.8K€15.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.10CLP 35.9K
$105€90.2
-63.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.59CLP 27.9K
$47.97€41.35
-38.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.34CLP 44.5K
$102€87.8
-53.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.4CLP 60.6K
$128€111
-49.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353CLP 332.5K
$1,661€1,432
-78.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$108CLP 101.9K
$1,228€1,059
-91.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$844CLP 794.3K
$2,915€2,513
-71.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$639CLP 601.4K
$2,023€1,744
-68.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,487CLP 1.4M
$8,129€7,007
-81.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,299CLP 1.2M
$4,635€3,996
-71.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,164CLP 1.1M
$1,619€1,396
-28.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
3.78
32.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calama: September 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $353 in Calama and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 39% 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: $34.00 in Calama vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $281 per month, with Calama 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
Calama vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Calama or Lisbon?
Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 264% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Calama or in Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 39% 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 Calama compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $353 in Calama versus $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Calama or in Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Calama compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $623 per month in Calama versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 264% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Calama or in Lisbon?
At $623 in Calama versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Calama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Calama or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Calama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $623 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calama hard to pass up.
How safe is Calama compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Calama 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 Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 264% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.