Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and AmbonCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ambon
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $661 in Ambon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,017 in Ambon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,373 in Ambon.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 245% more expensive than in Ambon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Ambon is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$0.88Rp 16.0K
1689.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$12.22Rp 220.6K
419.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$3.36Rp 60.7K
211.01%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$1.74Rp 31.3K
67.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.51Rp 9,186
349.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.26Rp 4,733
476.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.49Rp 44.9K
42.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$3.45Rp 62.3K
14.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.19Rp 21.4K
-9.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.16Rp 21.0K
51.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$0.93Rp 16.8K
82.80%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$1.55Rp 27.9K
109.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$8.19Rp 147.8K
61.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$3.11Rp 56.2K
147.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$8.07Rp 145.7K
95.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.34Rp 42.2K
-2.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.50Rp 27.0K
10.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.82Rp 32.8K
10.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.56Rp 28.1K
58.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.33Rp 23.9K
34.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.89Rp 34.1K
9.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.95Rp 17.2K
107.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.45Rp 8,112
84.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.54Rp 45.9K
157.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$19.90Rp 359.2K
-72.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$2.13Rp 38.4K
-37.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$3.07Rp 55.4K
-1.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.32Rp 5,778
609.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$9.70Rp 175.2K
377.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$0.57Rp 10.3K
642.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.37Rp 6,736
129.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$2.94Rp 53.0K
540.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.83Rp 15.0K
143.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$24.7KRp 446.0M
41.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$27.6KRp 497.4M
43.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$70.9Rp 1.3M
108.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$4.21Rp 76.0K
387.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$22.67Rp 409.3K
74.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$23.43Rp 422.9K
105.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$6.00Rp 108.4K
206.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$3.04Rp 54.8K
199.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$91.5Rp 1.7M
571.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$7,444Rp 134.4M
118.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$42.02Rp 758.5K
141.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$31.12Rp 561.7K
35.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$66.9Rp 1.2M
38.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$72.5Rp 1.3M
68.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$261Rp 4.7M
516.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$158Rp 2.9M
693.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$582Rp 10.5M
427.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$329Rp 5.9M
519.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,166Rp 21.0M
564.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$611Rp 11.0M
601.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ambon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$170Rp 3.1M
844.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.15
-58.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ambon: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $261 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 844% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $12.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $207 per month, with Ambon 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
Lisbon vs Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Ambon?
Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 245% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Ambon?
Average pay runs 844% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Ambon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $261 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Ambon?
All in, you'll spend $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $661 in Ambon – a 245% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Ambon?
A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 378% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Ambon?
At $661 in Ambon versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ambon but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ambon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Ambon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $661 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Ambon?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ambon 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 Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 245% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.