🙂A single person spends $537 per month in Dambulla vs $2,263 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $876 per month in Dambulla vs $3,315 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,216 per month in Dambulla vs $4,368 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂Dambulla is about 76% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dambulla sits 60% below the global median, while Lisbon is 68% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90LKR 1,315
$15.94€13.82
-75.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89LKR 8,388
$63.4€54.9
-60.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.24LKR 2,777
$10.38€9.00
-20.62%
Cappuccino
$2.66LKR 897
$2.79€2.42
-4.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72LKR 244
$2.34€2.03
-69.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LKR 138
$1.57€1.36
-73.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38LKR 801
$3.43€2.97
-30.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27LKR 1,102
$3.91€3.39
-16.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70LKR 572
$1.08€0.93
57.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 178
$1.77€1.53
-70.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85LKR 287
$1.71€1.48
-50.29%
Eggs
$2.14LKR 722
$3.15€2.73
-32.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.87LKR 4,676
$13.68€11.86
1.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.72LKR 1,592
$8.01€6.94
-41.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.09LKR 2,725
$15.52€13.45
-47.87%
Apples(1kg)
$7.51LKR 2,532
$2.29€1.99
227.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06LKR 358
$1.64€1.42
-35.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.69LKR 1,919
$1.94€1.68
193.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25LKR 420
$2.51€2.18
-50.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10LKR 371
$1.79€1.55
-38.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43LKR 481
$2.01€1.74
-28.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15LKR 389
$1.97€1.70
-41.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56LKR 188
$0.84€0.73
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91LKR 3,339
$6.79€5.88
45.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.48LKR 4,206
$5.67€4.92
120.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04LKR 686
$1.39€1.20
46.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96LKR 996
$3.02€2.61
-1.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.10LKR 34.62
$2.27€1.97
-95.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.44€39.38
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38LKR 128
$4.29€3.72
-91.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 119
$0.85€0.74
-58.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.61LKR 207
$18.28€15.84
-96.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22LKR 410
$1.99€1.72
-38.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KLKR 8.9M
$35.0K€30.4K
-24.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KLKR 11.6M
$39.5K€34.3K
-13.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.4LKR 20.3K
$146€127
-58.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.35LKR 1,465
$20.45€17.72
-78.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.92LKR 5,027
$38.98€33.78
-61.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.98€42.46
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83€16.32
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.29LKR 1,108
$9.52€8.25
-65.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.67LKR 12.4K
$608€527
-93.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$449LKR 151.4K
$16.5K€14.3K
-97.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.51LKR 9,272
$104€90.0
-73.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.71LKR 6,643
$42.12€36.50
-53.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7LKR 23.8K
$92.2€79.9
-23.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.24LKR 13.2K
$120€104
-67.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,621€1,405
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,268€1,099
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,048€2,642
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,009€1,741
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,663€6,641
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,329€3,752
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dambulla
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,585€1,374
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.45
3.81
331.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dambulla: June 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dambulla versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $269 – making Dambulla 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
Dambulla vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dambulla and Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $537 in Dambulla, $2,263 in Lisbon – roughly 321% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dambulla compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $806 per month in Dambulla and $3,394 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dambulla and $63.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dambulla, where all-in costs run around $537, than in Lisbon at $2,263. In Dambulla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dambulla and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $537 in Dambulla to $2,263 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dambulla or Lisbon safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Dambulla and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Dambulla. 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.