🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $600 in Hikkaduwa versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,137 in Hikkaduwa versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,674 in Hikkaduwa versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 74% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hikkaduwa is 55% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92LKR 1,317
$15.75€13.64
-75.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.14LKR 8,436
$63.5€55.0
-60.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.41LKR 2,821
$10.45€9.05
-19.52%
Cappuccino
$2.60LKR 872
$2.91€2.52
-10.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 231
$2.29€1.98
-69.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34LKR 115
$1.50€1.30
-77.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31LKR 775
$3.56€3.09
-35.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34LKR 1,120
$3.96€3.43
-15.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68LKR 564
$1.08€0.94
55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52LKR 176
$1.76€1.53
-70.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88LKR 294
$1.70€1.47
-48.24%
Eggs
$2.23LKR 748
$3.25€2.81
-31.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.13LKR 4,741
$13.25€11.47
6.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.77LKR 1,601
$7.70€6.67
-38.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.02LKR 2,691
$15.77€13.66
-49.14%
Apples(1kg)
$7.54LKR 2,530
$2.28€1.97
230.70%
Banana(1kg)
$0.31LKR 106
$1.66€1.43
-81.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63LKR 881
$2.02€1.75
30.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03LKR 344
$2.47€2.14
-58.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12LKR 374
$1.79€1.55
-37.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.35LKR 118
$2.07€1.79
-83.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16LKR 388
$1.97€1.71
-41.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55LKR 186
$0.83€0.72
-33.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16LKR 3,408
$6.55€5.68
55.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.80LKR 4,295
$5.57€4.82
129.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10LKR 704
$1.33€1.15
57.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94LKR 986
$3.01€2.60
-2.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35LKR 116
$2.27€1.97
-84.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.35€40.14
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 129
$4.23€3.66
-90.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33LKR 111
$0.85€0.73
-61.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.58LKR 193
$18.83€16.31
-96.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LKR 424
$2.02€1.75
-37.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9KLKR 9.0M
$35.0K€30.3K
-22.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KLKR 11.7M
$39.6K€34.3K
-12.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.2LKR 20.5K
$148€128
-58.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37LKR 1,466
$20.52€17.77
-78.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.86LKR 4,987
$39.52€34.23
-62.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$48.17€41.72
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39€15.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.32LKR 1,114
$9.10€7.88
-63.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.10LKR 12.4K
$615€532
-93.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$448LKR 150.3K
$16.3K€14.1K
-97.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.21LKR 9,132
$102€88.0
-73.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.77LKR 6,632
$42.09€36.45
-53.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3LKR 22.9K
$92.3€79.9
-25.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.63LKR 13.0K
$122€106
-68.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170LKR 57.1K
$1,612€1,396
-89.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$82.3LKR 27.6K
$1,254€1,086
-93.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,688LKR 566.5K
$3,069€2,658
-45.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$505LKR 169.4K
$2,037€1,764
-75.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,751€6,712
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,286€3,712
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hikkaduwa
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,602€1,387
-
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 Hikkaduwa: July 25, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $170 in Hikkaduwa and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $267 per month, with Hikkaduwa 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
Hikkaduwa vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Hikkaduwa?
Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 280% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $900 in Hikkaduwa and $3,420 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Hikkaduwa and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $170 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hikkaduwa and in Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hikkaduwa and in Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $600 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $2,280 in Lisbon – a 280% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hikkaduwa or in Lisbon?
At $600 in Hikkaduwa versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hikkaduwa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Hikkaduwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hikkaduwa or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Hikkaduwa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hikkaduwa or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Hikkaduwa 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 280% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.