Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Anuradhapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Anuradhapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $489 in Anuradhapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $823 in Anuradhapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,157 in Anuradhapura, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 352% more than Anuradhapura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Anuradhapura is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$3.91 LKR 1,296
306.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$25.39 LKR 8,419
155.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$8.41 LKR 2,788
24.97%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.63 LKR 871
9.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.69 LKR 229
224.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.38 LKR 125
294.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$2.38 LKR 791
46.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$3.39 LKR 1,125
14.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.72 LKR 572
-33.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.56 LKR 186
212.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.85 LKR 283
107.06%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.22 LKR 736
45.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$13.83 LKR 4,587
-2.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.69 LKR 1,555
68.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$8.02 LKR 2,659
97.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$7.26 LKR 2,406
-68.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.11 LKR 368
53.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$5.91 LKR 1,958
-65.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.24 LKR 411
98.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.10 LKR 364
67.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.42 LKR 471
40.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.15 LKR 382
67.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.60 LKR 200
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$10.18 LKR 3,377
-35.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$12.77 LKR 4,236
-55.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$2.07 LKR 685
-33.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.87 LKR 953
3.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.39 LKR 128
1000.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.35 LKR 117
134.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$0.56 LKR 186
3167.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.20 LKR 396
71.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$27.1K LKR 9.0M
26.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$35.3K LKR 11.7M
11.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$26.43 LKR 8,764
459.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$3.25 LKR 1,079
531.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$14.92 LKR 4,948
165.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$3.29 LKR 1,090
179.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$36.52 LKR 12.1K
1581.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$439 LKR 145.7K
3553.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$28.02 LKR 9,292
273.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$19.62 LKR 6,504
114.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$69.8 LKR 23.1K
34.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$39.00 LKR 12.9K
206.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
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
Lisbon
Anuradhapura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
16.45
-76.84%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Anuradhapura: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $25.00 in Anuradhapura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $257 – making Anuradhapura the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Anuradhapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and Anuradhapura compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon, $489 in Anuradhapura – roughly 352% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Anuradhapura?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $734 in Anuradhapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $25.00 in Anuradhapura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Anuradhapura, where all-in costs run around $489, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Anuradhapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Anuradhapura?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $489 in Anuradhapura to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Anuradhapura safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Lisbon and Anuradhapura?
If budget matters most, go with Anuradhapura. 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.

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