Cost of Living Comparison Between Calama and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Calama and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,091 in Calama versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,592 in Calama versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,094 in Calama versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Calama costs roughly 51% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Calama is 19% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90CLPΒ 7,014
$15.91β¬13.69
-50.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.27CLPΒ 29.5K
$64.8β¬55.7
-48.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03CLPΒ 7,127
$10.51β¬9.04
-23.60%
Cappuccino
$2.14CLPΒ 1,897
$2.87β¬2.47
-25.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94CLPΒ 833
$2.24β¬1.93
-58.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96CLPΒ 850
$1.50β¬1.29
-36.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25CLPΒ 2,885
$3.49β¬3.00
-6.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05CLPΒ 3,599
$3.88β¬3.34
4.38%
π Groceries & Markets
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17CLPΒ 1,042
$1.14β¬0.98
2.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58CLPΒ 1,400
$1.75β¬1.51
-9.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92CLPΒ 1,701
$1.76β¬1.51
9.09%
Eggs
$3.57CLPΒ 3,172
$3.22β¬2.77
10.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.62CLPΒ 9,424
$13.49β¬11.61
-21.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.78CLPΒ 6,017
$7.91β¬6.81
-14.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08CLPΒ 9,833
$15.87β¬13.65
-30.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89CLPΒ 1,680
$2.31β¬1.99
-18.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51CLPΒ 1,340
$1.70β¬1.46
-11.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60CLPΒ 1,422
$2.01β¬1.73
-20.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49CLPΒ 1,324
$2.46β¬2.12
-39.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28CLPΒ 1,140
$1.84β¬1.59
-30.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40CLPΒ 1,240
$2.00β¬1.72
-30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21CLPΒ 1,072
$1.93β¬1.66
-37.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19CLPΒ 1,056
$0.79β¬0.68
50.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34CLPΒ 4,742
$6.61β¬5.68
-19.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19CLPΒ 5,497
$5.72β¬4.92
8.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55CLPΒ 1,379
$1.37β¬1.17
13.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21CLPΒ 1,965
$2.97β¬2.56
-25.59%
π Getting Around
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62CLPΒ 546
$2.37β¬2.04
-73.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56β¬39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47CLPΒ 420
$4.29β¬3.69
-89.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52CLPΒ 1,345
$0.82β¬0.70
85.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$18.30β¬15.74
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57CLPΒ 1,397
$2.06β¬1.78
-23.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KCLPΒ 17.5M
$34.3Kβ¬29.5K
-42.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KCLPΒ 19.4M
$39.3Kβ¬33.8K
-44.43%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132CLPΒ 116.9K
$148β¬127
-10.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.64CLPΒ 12.1K
$20.52β¬17.65
-33.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.20CLPΒ 19.7K
$39.61β¬34.08
-43.95%
π Sport & Entertainment
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.42CLPΒ 34.1K
$47.85β¬41.16
-19.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.96CLPΒ 18.6K
$18.92β¬16.28
10.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.76CLPΒ 5,113
$9.18β¬7.90
-37.25%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433CLPΒ 383.9K
$614β¬528
-29.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.0Kβ¬13.8K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5CLPΒ 44.8K
$105β¬90.0
-51.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.42CLPΒ 27.0K
$42.06β¬36.18
-27.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.2CLPΒ 54.3K
$94.0β¬80.8
-34.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1CLPΒ 73.7K
$120β¬103
-30.57%
π Accommodation & Living
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$356CLPΒ 316.0K
$1,628β¬1,400
-78.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369CLPΒ 327.1K
$1,255β¬1,080
-70.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861CLPΒ 764.2K
$3,030β¬2,607
-71.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604CLPΒ 535.7K
$2,020β¬1,738
-70.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,542CLPΒ 1.4M
$7,800β¬6,709
-80.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,365CLPΒ 1.2M
$4,273β¬3,675
-68.04%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Calama
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,240CLPΒ 1.1M
$1,603β¬1,379
-22.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.18
3.81
35.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calama: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Calama and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Lisbon pays 29% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Calama vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $269 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 β living expenses run 103% 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 Lisbon?
On paper, Lisbon earns 29% 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 Calama vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $356 in Calama versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Calama or Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 $1,091 per month in Calama versus $2,210 in Lisbon β a 103% 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 Lisbon?
At $1,091 in Calama versus $2,210 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 β similar infrastructure at $1,091 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 β expenses run 103% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.