🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $533 in Kalutara versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $869 in Kalutara versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,206 in Kalutara versus $4,411 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 60% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.90LKR 1,293
$15.91€13.69
-75.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.66LKR 8,178
$64.8€55.7
-61.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.30LKR 2,753
$10.51€9.04
-21.03%
Cappuccino
$2.74LKR 910
$2.87€2.47
-4.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69LKR 230
$2.24€1.93
-69.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37LKR 124
$1.50€1.29
-75.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28LKR 757
$3.49€3.00
-34.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29LKR 1,091
$3.88€3.34
-15.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79LKR 593
$1.14€0.98
57.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52LKR 173
$1.75€1.51
-70.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LKR 270
$1.76€1.51
-53.98%
Eggs
$2.14LKR 709
$3.22€2.77
-33.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.15LKR 4,692
$13.49€11.61
4.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.77LKR 1,582
$7.91€6.81
-39.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.85LKR 2,603
$15.87€13.65
-50.54%
Apples(1kg)
$7.37LKR 2,444
$2.31€1.99
219.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07LKR 356
$1.70€1.46
-37.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.92LKR 1,963
$2.01€1.73
194.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26LKR 418
$2.46€2.12
-48.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10LKR 366
$1.84€1.59
-40.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43LKR 474
$2.00€1.72
-28.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20LKR 397
$1.93€1.66
-37.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57LKR 189
$0.79€0.68
-27.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.91LKR 3,287
$6.61€5.68
49.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.60LKR 4,178
$5.72€4.92
120.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00LKR 663
$1.37€1.17
45.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94LKR 975
$2.97€2.56
-1.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.37€2.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41LKR 136
$4.29€3.69
-90.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 117
$0.82€0.70
-57.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.58LKR 191
$18.30€15.74
-96.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LKR 417
$2.06€1.78
-38.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KLKR 8.8M
$34.3K€29.5K
-22.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.2KLKR 11.7M
$39.3K€33.8K
-10.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.2LKR 19.6K
$148€127
-59.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.41LKR 1,463
$20.52€17.65
-78.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.11LKR 5,009
$39.61€34.08
-61.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.94LKR 3,294
$47.85€41.16
-79.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.25LKR 1,079
$9.18€7.90
-64.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.46LKR 12.4K
$614€528
-93.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$441LKR 146.1K
$16.0K€13.8K
-97.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.58LKR 9,147
$105€90.0
-73.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.16LKR 6,353
$42.06€36.18
-54.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.0LKR 23.2K
$94.0€80.8
-25.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.27LKR 13.0K
$120€103
-67.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,628€1,400
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,255€1,080
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,030€2,607
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020€1,738
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalutara
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603€1,379
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Kalutara vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $269 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 315% 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 vs Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $800 in Kalutara and $3,315 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 Lisbon?
Childcare runs $37.46 in Kalutara versus $614 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 vs Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Kalutara – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $65.0 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 Lisbon?
At $533 in Kalutara versus $2,210 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 $533 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 315% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.