🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $544 in Kalutara versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $874 in Kalutara versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,203 in Kalutara versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Kalutara costs roughly 76% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kalutara is 59% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.93LKR 1,320
$16.19€14.15
-75.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.56LKR 8,586
$63.3€55.3
-59.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.26LKR 2,775
$10.32€9.02
-19.96%
Cappuccino
$2.71LKR 910
$2.83€2.47
-4.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73LKR 246
$2.29€2.00
-68.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LKR 137
$1.58€1.38
-74.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36LKR 794
$3.40€2.97
-30.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44LKR 1,155
$4.03€3.52
-14.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72LKR 578
$1.09€0.95
57.80%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51LKR 173
$1.75€1.53
-70.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87LKR 293
$1.76€1.54
-50.57%
Eggs
$2.19LKR 734
$3.17€2.77
-30.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.86LKR 4,656
$13.19€11.53
5.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73LKR 1,591
$7.97€6.96
-40.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.93LKR 2,664
$15.53€13.57
-48.94%
Apples(1kg)
$7.66LKR 2,575
$2.37€2.07
223.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11LKR 373
$1.71€1.49
-35.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.83LKR 1,957
$2.01€1.75
190.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.22LKR 408
$2.43€2.12
-49.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14LKR 384
$1.76€1.54
-35.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38LKR 464
$2.03€1.78
-32.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14LKR 383
$1.92€1.68
-40.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57LKR 191
$0.85€0.74
-32.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.08LKR 3,386
$6.58€5.75
53.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68LKR 4,260
$5.58€4.87
127.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09LKR 701
$1.33€1.16
57.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85LKR 958
$2.97€2.60
-4.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.28€1.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.79€40.01
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 141
$4.23€3.69
-90.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 119
$0.81€0.71
-56.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.57LKR 190
$18.44€16.11
-96.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21LKR 407
$2.08€1.82
-41.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KLKR 9.0M
$34.7K€30.3K
-22.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KLKR 11.5M
$39.2K€34.2K
-12.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.1LKR 19.8K
$148€129
-60.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.43LKR 1,489
$20.46€17.88
-78.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99LKR 5,036
$39.56€34.56
-62.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.93LKR 3,337
$47.99€41.93
-79.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.25
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.37LKR 1,131
$9.22€8.06
-63.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.12LKR 12.1K
$616€538
-94.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$436LKR 146.6K
$16.4K€14.4K
-97.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.88LKR 9,368
$103€89.7
-72.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.76LKR 6,638
$41.74€36.47
-52.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.2LKR 23.6K
$94.8€82.8
-25.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.30LKR 13.2K
$122€107
-67.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,633€1,426
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,232€1,077
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,098€2,707
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,031€1,775
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,831€6,842
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,389€3,835
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,607€1,404
-
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 Kalutara: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Kalutara vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $267 per month, with Kalutara 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
Kalutara vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kalutara or Lisbon?
Kalutara wins on cost – living expenses run 321% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kalutara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kalutara and in Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $816 in Kalutara and $3,437 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Kalutara and in Lisbon?
Childcare runs $36.12 in Kalutara versus $616 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Kalutara and in Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Kalutara – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kalutara or in Lisbon?
At $544 in Kalutara versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kalutara but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kalutara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kalutara or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kalutara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $544 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kalutara hard to pass up.
How safe is Kalutara compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Kalutara 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 Kalutara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 321% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.