🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,269 in Kumamoto versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,963 in Kumamoto versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,658 in Kumamoto versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Kumamoto costs roughly 43% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kumamoto is 5% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.44¥1,350
$15.91€13.70
-46.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.17¥5,466
$64.8€55.8
-47.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.21¥993
$10.51€9.05
-40.91%
Cappuccino
$3.08¥493
$2.87€2.47
7.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66¥105
$2.24€1.93
-70.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82¥132
$1.50€1.30
-45.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69¥271
$3.49€3.01
-51.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14¥342
$3.88€3.34
-44.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37¥219
$1.14€0.98
20.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58¥253
$1.75€1.51
-9.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.11¥657
$1.76€1.51
133.52%
Eggs
$2.06¥329
$3.22€2.77
-36.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03¥1,604
$13.49€11.62
-25.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.03¥964
$7.91€6.81
-23.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.17¥3,386
$15.87€13.67
33.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10¥496
$2.31€1.99
34.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42¥228
$1.70€1.46
-16.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41¥226
$2.01€1.73
-29.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.85¥936
$2.46€2.12
137.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.72¥435
$1.84€1.59
47.83%
Onion(1kg)
$3.22¥515
$2.00€1.72
61.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97¥155
$1.93€1.66
-49.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76¥121
$0.79€0.68
-3.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93¥629
$6.61€5.69
-40.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.61¥897
$5.72€4.93
-1.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90¥304
$1.37€1.18
38.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11¥337
$2.97€2.56
-28.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67¥267
$2.37€2.04
-29.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.3¥9,001
$45.56€39.23
23.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.72¥755
$4.29€3.69
10.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.00¥480
$0.82€0.70
265.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.29¥3,085
$18.30€15.76
5.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥190
$2.06€1.78
-42.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0K¥3.7M
$34.3K€29.5K
-32.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K¥3.2M
$39.3K€33.8K
-48.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213¥34.1K
$148€127
44.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.96¥4,312
$20.52€17.67
31.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.73¥5,715
$39.61€34.11
-9.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0¥8,949
$47.85€41.20
16.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.04¥2,246
$18.92€16.29
-25.79%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65¥2,184
$9.18€7.91
48.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$408¥65.2K
$614€529
-33.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K¥2.1M
$16.0K€13.8K
-17.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.84¥7,013
$105€90.1
-58.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.57¥4,730
$42.06€36.22
-29.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.9¥10.4K
$94.0€80.9
-30.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.1¥9,613
$120€103
-49.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$466¥74.5K
$1,628€1,402
-71.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$325¥52.0K
$1,255€1,081
-74.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$867¥138.7K
$3,030€2,609
-71.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$664¥106.2K
$2,020€1,740
-67.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,290¥686.2K
$7,800€6,716
-44.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,396¥383.2K
$4,273€3,679
-43.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kumamoto
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,603€1,381
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.67
3.81
-56.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kumamoto: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Kumamoto and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Kumamoto vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kumamoto vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kumamoto and Lisbon?
Kumamoto and Lisbon differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($1,269 vs $2,210 including rent). Kumamoto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Kumamoto compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,903 in Kumamoto 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 apartment prices compare in Kumamoto and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $466 in Kumamoto versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kumamoto and Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Kumamoto runs roughly 24% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kumamoto and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $408 in Kumamoto versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,269 in Kumamoto versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kumamoto but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kumamoto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kumamoto and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kumamoto or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kumamoto 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.
Where should expats move: Kumamoto or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Kumamoto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.