Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kisumu and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Kisumu: $643 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $19,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kisumu
🇰🇪 Kenya
$643
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kisumu and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kisumu and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $643 per month in Kisumu vs $2,223 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Kisumu $643
  • Lisbon $2,223

A couple spends around $972 per month in Kisumu vs $3,271 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Kisumu $972
  • Lisbon $3,271

A family of three spends $1,302 per month in Kisumu vs $4,319 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Kisumu $1,302
  • Lisbon $4,319

Kisumu is about 71% cheaper than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Kisumu sits 52% below the global median, while Lisbon is 65% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.67 KES 606
$16.50 €14.67
-71.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.63 KES 3,193
$61.3 €54.5
-59.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.54 KES 848
$11.27 €10.03
-41.97%
Cappuccino
$2.63 KES 342
$3.06 €2.72
-14.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 KES 86.8
$2.26 €2.01
-70.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 KES 72.9
$1.73 €1.54
-67.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 KES 254
$3.39 €3.02
-42.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 KES 353
$3.40 €3.02
-20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.56 KES 72.1
$1.12 €1.00
-50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 KES 67.0
$1.86 €1.65
-72.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 KES 245
$1.53 €1.36
23.53%
Eggs
$1.64 KES 212
$3.96 €3.53
-58.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.71 KES 1,388
$12.76 €11.35
-16.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.28 KES 814
$7.90 €7.02
-20.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.06 KES 656
$16.97 €15.09
-70.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 KES 437
$2.27 €2.02
48.46%
Banana (1kg)
$0.89 KES 115
$1.75 €1.55
-49.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 KES 257
$1.85 €1.64
7.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 KES 144
$2.57 €2.28
-56.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 KES 139
$1.86 €1.65
-42.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 KES 117
$2.02 €1.80
-55.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 KES 89.4
$1.44 €1.28
-52.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 KES 95.6
$0.82 €0.73
-9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 KES 395
$6.56 €5.83
-53.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.90 KES 1,024
$5.62 €5.00
40.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 KES 298
$1.28 €1.14
79.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 KES 306
$2.07 €1.84
14.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 KES 96.3
$2.35 €2.09
-68.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.05 KES 2,989
$44.18 €39.30
-47.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.57 KES 204
$3.99 €3.55
-60.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 KES 195
$1.09 €0.97
37.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.82 KES 365
$16.64 €14.81
-83.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 KES 210
$2.28 €2.03
-28.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K KES 2.8M
$33.7K €30.0K
-36.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K KES 2.7M
$39.3K €35.0K
-47.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.9 KES 7,119
$167 €149
-67.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.40 KES 1,997
$18.80 €16.72
-18.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.59 KES 4,614
$33.09 €29.43
7.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.87 KES 2,965
$46.01 €40.93
-50.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19 €17.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.70 KES 998
$9.84 €8.75
-21.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$115 KES 14.9K
$677 €602
-83.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K KES 1.6M
$16.9K €15.1K
-27.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.41 KES 1,479
$101 €90.1
-88.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.63 KES 2,545
$45.76 €40.70
-57.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$15.49 KES 2,008
$100.0 €88.9
-84.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.27 KES 1,979
$123 €109
-87.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$151 KES 19.6K
$1,614 €1,436
-90.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 KES 18.0K
$1,197 €1,065
-88.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$560 KES 72.6K
$2,862 €2,545
-80.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 KES 27.4K
$1,990 €1,770
-89.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$765 KES 99.2K
$7,577 €6,740
-89.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,307 €3,831
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kisumu
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$779 KES 101.0K
$1,588 €1,412
-50.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.71
3.85
282.08%

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

Last update for Kisumu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kisumu
$188
Lisbon
$269 43.4% $82
Accommodation & Living
Kisumu
$139
Lisbon
$1.2K 761% $1.1K
Eating Out
Kisumu
$109
Lisbon
$242 123% $133
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kisumu
$106
Lisbon
$219 107% $113
Sport & Entertainment
Kisumu
$38
Lisbon
$66 71.7% $27
Getting Around
Kisumu
$35
Lisbon
$63 79.5% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Kisumu
$28
Lisbon
$166 498% $139

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Kisumu versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 104% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kisumu versus $61.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $269 – making Kisumu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇰🇪 Kisumu
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
11:17 11:17 AM
09:17 9:17 AM
2 h behind Kisumu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,155,574
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to KES – Kenyan Shilling Converter

Kenyan Shilling exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 130 KES (1,000 KES = 7.71 USD). 1 EUR = 146 KES (1,000 KES = 6.86 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kisumu Lisbon 6,210 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kisumu
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kisumu vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kisumu or Lisbon?
Lisbon costs about 246% more than Kisumu, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kisumu and in Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $964 per month in Kisumu and $3,335 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kisumu or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kisumu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kisumu or in Lisbon?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Kisumu and in Lisbon?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kisumu and $61.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kisumu or in Lisbon?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kisumu, where all-in costs run around $643, than in Lisbon at $2,223. In Kisumu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kisumu or Lisbon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kisumu costs $643 versus $2,223 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kisumu compared to Lisbon?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Kisumu or to Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Kisumu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kisumu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?