🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,032 in Djibouti versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,221 in Djibouti versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,410 in Djibouti versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Djibouti costs roughly 12% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Djibouti48% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93DJF 1,770
$17.30€14.87
-42.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8DJF 14.4K
$63.3€54.4
27.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.64DJF 2,251
$11.39€9.79
10.97%
Cappuccino
$3.64DJF 648
$3.19€2.74
14.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85DJF 330
$2.45€2.10
-24.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72DJF 306
$1.76€1.52
-2.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.97DJF 1,241
$3.59€3.09
94.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.57DJF 1,526
$3.39€2.92
152.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.49DJF 444
$1.24€1.06
100.81%
White Bread(500g)
$9.46DJF 1,685
$1.98€1.71
377.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.68DJF 655
$1.52€1.31
142.11%
Eggs
$6.83DJF 1,217
$4.04€3.47
69.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.73DJF 1,733
$13.54€11.64
-28.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.39DJF 3,276
$8.39€7.21
119.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.26DJF 2,184
$18.25€15.69
-32.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77DJF 672
$2.29€1.97
64.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20DJF 215
$1.74€1.50
-31.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84DJF 506
$1.86€1.60
52.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60DJF 286
$2.63€2.26
-39.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18DJF 211
$1.92€1.65
-38.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38DJF 247
$2.09€1.80
-33.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.49DJF 977
$1.44€1.24
281.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53DJF 95.1
$0.84€0.72
-36.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74DJF 488
$6.78€5.83
-59.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.30DJF 3,794
$5.71€4.91
273.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32DJF 412
$1.38€1.18
68.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63DJF 647
$2.22€1.91
63.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27DJF 47.74
$2.40€2.06
-88.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.17DJF 3,771
$46.78€40.22
-54.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88DJF 513
$4.17€3.59
-30.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.72DJF 1,019
$1.14€0.98
401.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.65DJF 5,103
$17.68€15.20
62.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71DJF 305
$2.32€2.00
-26.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KDJF 6.1M
$35.3K€30.4K
-3.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KDJF 5.9M
$41.4K€35.6K
-20.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$524DJF 93.4K
$170€146
207.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.65DJF 5,638
$19.34€16.62
63.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.9DJF 10.7K
$33.64€28.92
77.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$85.6DJF 15.3K
$48.10€41.35
78.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.24DJF 5,030
$19.90€17.11
41.91%
Cinema Ticket
$12.47DJF 2,222
$9.92€8.53
25.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$335DJF 59.6K
$717€617
-53.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,636DJF 1.5M
$17.5K€15.0K
-50.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.62DJF 7,592
$105€90.1
-59.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.63DJF 3,496
$46.95€40.36
-58.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123DJF 21.8K
$103€88.9
18.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.9DJF 10.1K
$124€107
-54.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673DJF 119.8K
$1,677€1,441
-59.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$473DJF 84.3K
$1,271€1,093
-62.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,002DJF 178.6K
$2,985€2,566
-66.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,245DJF 221.7K
$1,992€1,713
-37.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.7KDJF 2.3M
$7,826€6,728
62.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,045DJF 1.1M
$4,658€4,004
29.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Djibouti
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,814DJF 501.2K
$1,583€1,361
77.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.07
3.79
244.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Djibouti: September 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Djibouti and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Djibouti pays 78% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Djibouti vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $461 vs $283 per month, with Lisbon 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
Djibouti vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Djibouti or Lisbon?
Djibouti wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Djibouti the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Djibouti or in Lisbon?
Average pay runs 78% higher in Djibouti, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Djibouti compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $673 in Djibouti versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Djibouti compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Djibouti runs roughly 121% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Djibouti and in Lisbon?
Childcare runs $335 in Djibouti versus $717 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Djibouti or in Lisbon?
At $2,032 in Djibouti versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Djibouti but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Djibouti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Djibouti or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Djibouti delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,032 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Djibouti hard to pass up.
How safe is Djibouti compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Djibouti 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 Djibouti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.