Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Isiolo and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $514 in Isiolo versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $840 in Isiolo versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,166 in Isiolo versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in Isiolo costs roughly 78% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Isiolo is 63% below, Lisbon is 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 KES 510

$17.30 €14.89

-77.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.21 KES 4,555

$63.3 €54.4

-44.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 KES 814

$11.39 €9.80

-44.78%

Cappuccino

$2.73 KES 354

$3.19 €2.75

-14.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 KES 72.1

$2.45 €2.10

-77.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 KES 71.4

$1.76 €1.52

-68.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 KES 298

$3.59 €3.09

-35.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 KES 357

$3.39 €2.92

-18.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 KES 110

$1.24 €1.06

-31.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 KES 72.9

$1.98 €1.71

-71.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 KES 239

$1.52 €1.31

21.71%

Eggs

$1.72 KES 222

$4.04 €3.48

-57.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.22 KES 1,323

$13.54 €11.65

-24.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 KES 799

$8.39 €7.22

-26.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.33 KES 819

$18.25 €15.70

-65.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 KES 423

$2.29 €1.97

42.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$1.74 €1.50

-41.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 KES 264

$1.86 €1.60

9.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 KES 145

$2.63 €2.26

-57.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$1.92 €1.65

-43.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 KES 135

$2.09 €1.80

-49.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 KES 93.4

$1.44 €1.24

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 KES 99.6

$0.84 €0.72

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.57 KES 461

$6.78 €5.83

-47.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.46 KES 1,482

$5.71 €4.91

100.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 KES 299

$1.38 €1.18

67.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 KES 355

$2.22 €1.91

23.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.56 KES 201

$4.17 €3.59

-62.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.14 €0.98

37.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 KES 380

$17.68 €15.21

-83.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 KES 177

$2.32 €2.00

-40.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.6K KES 2.7M

$35.3K €30.4K

-41.64%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.8K KES 2.6M

$41.4K €35.7K

-52.26%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.9 KES 8,002

$170 €147

-63.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.31 KES 1,981

$19.34 €16.64

-20.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.94 KES 4,520

$33.64 €28.95

3.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.39

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.12

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 KES 982

$9.92 €8.54

-23.49%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$236 KES 30.6K

$717 €617

-67.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K KES 1.5M

$17.5K €15.0K

-34.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.78 KES 3,464

$105 €90.2

-74.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.71 KES 3,327

$46.95 €40.40

-45.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 KES 8,239

$103 €89.0

-38.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.2 KES 7,663

$124 €107

-52.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,443

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,094

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,568

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,715

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,734

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,008

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$762 KES 98.6K

$1,583 €1,362

-51.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.71

3.79

288.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Isiolo: September 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 108% 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: $35.00 in Isiolo vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $283 per month, with Isiolo 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

Isiolo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Isiolo wins on cost – living expenses run 351% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isiolo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 108% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $514 per month in Isiolo versus $2,316 in Lisbon – a 351% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $514 in Isiolo versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Isiolo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Isiolo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Isiolo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $514 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Isiolo hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Isiolo 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.

Expats usually find Isiolo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 351% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.