Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Avarua Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Avarua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,243 per month in Lisbon vs $850 in Avarua, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,315 per month in Lisbon vs $1,360 in Avarua, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,387 per month in Lisbon vs $1,870 in Avarua, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 164% more than Avarua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lisbon sits 67% above the global median, while Avarua is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.73 €13.42

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.2 €53.9

$59.2 NZ$100

6.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €8.80

$8.80 NZ$14.88

17.27%

Cappuccino

$2.81 €2.40

$3.52 NZ$5.95

-20.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 €1.99

$2.63 NZ$4.44

-11.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 €1.29

$2.37 NZ$4.00

-36.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 €2.87

$5.72 NZ$9.66

-41.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 €3.34

$4.89 NZ$8.27

-20.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.92

$1.82 NZ$3.08

-40.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.49

$3.58 NZ$6.05

-51.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 €1.50

$1.85 NZ$3.13

-5.41%

Eggs

$3.10 €2.64

$5.00 NZ$8.46

-38.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.28 €11.33

$11.97 NZ$20.23

10.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 €6.70

$8.41 NZ$14.21

-6.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.05 €13.69

$10.99 NZ$18.57

46.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 €2.04

$3.07 NZ$5.19

-22.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.47

$1.78 NZ$3.00

-3.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 €1.68

$3.71 NZ$6.27

-46.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.17

$9.64 NZ$16.29

-73.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 €1.53

$3.06 NZ$5.17

-41.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 €1.68

$2.34 NZ$3.95

-15.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.96 €1.67

$2.36 NZ$3.98

-16.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.71

$2.99 NZ$5.05

-71.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.82 €5.82

Wine (Bottle)

$5.85 €4.99

$14.69 NZ$24.82

-60.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 €2.49

$4.47 NZ$7.55

-34.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 €1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.88 €39.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 €3.51

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.69

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.94 €16.16

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 €1.78

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.1K €30.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.7K €33.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$150 €128

$119 NZ$201

25.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.49 €17.48

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.15 €33.40

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 €42.35

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.47 €15.76

Cinema Ticket

$9.20 €7.84

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$624 €533

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K €13.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$102 €87.2

$68.4 NZ$116

49.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.88 €34.87

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 €81.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 €103

$75.3 NZ$127

60.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,653 €1,410

$156 NZ$263

960.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,233 €1,051

$157 NZ$266

683.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,043 €2,596

$174 NZ$295

1644.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,059 €1,756

$229 NZ$387

799.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,879 €6,720

$4,988 NZ$8,429

57.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,303 €3,671

$760 NZ$1,285

465.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,566 €1,336

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Last update for Avarua: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,653 in Lisbon versus $156 in Avarua. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63 in Lisbon versus $59 in Avarua. Groceries tell a different story – $270 in Lisbon vs $379 in Avarua – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Avarua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon costs about 164% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,365 per month in Lisbon and $1,275 in Avarua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Avarua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,243 in Lisbon and $850 in Avarua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 41% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $850, than in Lisbon at $2,243. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $850 versus $2,243 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Avarua. 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.