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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $839 in Avarua, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,362 in Avarua, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,885 in Avarua, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 163% more than Avarua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Avarua is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.80

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €56.2

$59.3 NZ$102

9.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.11

$9.23 NZ$15.90

13.87%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.49

$3.67 NZ$6.33

-21.80%

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

$2.24 €1.95

$2.64 NZ$4.54

-15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.30

$2.43 NZ$4.20

-38.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.03

$6.03 NZ$10.38

-42.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.37

$4.93 NZ$8.50

-21.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.99

$1.84 NZ$3.16

-38.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.52

$3.46 NZ$5.96

-49.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.52

$1.83 NZ$3.16

-3.83%

Eggs

$3.22 €2.79

$5.16 NZ$8.89

-37.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.70

$12.04 NZ$20.75

12.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.86

$8.50 NZ$14.65

-6.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.77

$10.67 NZ$18.38

48.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €2.00

$3.09 NZ$5.32

-25.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.48

$1.83 NZ$3.14

-7.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.74

$3.71 NZ$6.39

-45.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.13

$9.64 NZ$16.60

-74.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.60

$3.05 NZ$5.26

-39.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.74

$2.36 NZ$4.06

-15.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.67

$2.40 NZ$4.13

-19.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

$3.03 NZ$5.23

-73.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.73

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.96

$15.06 NZ$25.95

-62.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.58

$4.49 NZ$7.73

-33.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.79

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

$34.3K €29.7K

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

$39.3K €34.1K

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

$148 €128

$123 NZ$212

20.43%

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

$20.52 €17.79

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.35

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.49

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.41

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.96

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

$614 €532

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.8

$68.0 NZ$117

53.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.47

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €81.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €104

$75.5 NZ$130

58.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,412

$158 NZ$271

933.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,089

$155 NZ$266

711.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,628

$172 NZ$296

1665.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,752

$230 NZ$397

777.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,764

$5,020 NZ$8,648

55.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,705

$734 NZ$1,265

481.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,391

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Avarua: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $158 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $59.0 in Avarua. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Lisbon vs $380 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 163% 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 $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,258 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 $2,210 in Lisbon and $839 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 $839, than in Lisbon at $2,210. 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 $839 versus $2,210 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.