😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $593 in Bandarawela, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $923 in Bandarawela, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,254 in Bandarawela, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 287% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Bandarawela is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$4.07LKR 1,367
297.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$24.85LKR 8,351
154.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$8.41LKR 2,825
22.71%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.66LKR 895
6.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.72LKR 243
218.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.37LKR 125
327.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.31LKR 777
47.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$3.36LKR 1,129
19.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.71LKR 576
-36.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.51LKR 173
243.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.87LKR 294
102.30%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.23LKR 750
42.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$13.84LKR 4,652
-4.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$4.76LKR 1,598
67.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$7.91LKR 2,659
96.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$7.36LKR 2,472
-67.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.07LKR 358
59.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$5.66LKR 1,902
-64.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.26LKR 422
92.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.10LKR 369
60.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.37LKR 460
48.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.20LKR 403
60.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.60LKR 201
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$9.99LKR 3,356
-34.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$12.60LKR 4,235
-55.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.02LKR 678
-34.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.83LKR 950
4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.17LKR 56.3
1241.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$1.63LKR 549
2709.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.38LKR 128
1013.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.33LKR 111
145.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$0.48LKR 161
3741.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.02LKR 343
103.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$26.9KLKR 9.0M
28.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$34.3KLKR 11.5M
14.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$61.2LKR 20.6K
141.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$4.44LKR 1,493
360.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$15.18LKR 5,101
160.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$5.06LKR 1,700
848.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$3.30LKR 1,109
179.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$36.37LKR 12.2K
1593.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$445LKR 149.5K
3596.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$27.67LKR 9,298
271.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$19.65LKR 6,604
112.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$70.4LKR 23.7K
34.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$38.25LKR 12.9K
219.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$100LKR 33.7K
1529.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$50.8LKR 17.1K
2326.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$133LKR 44.7K
2227.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$66.1LKR 22.2K
2972.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bandarawela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
-
-
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Bandarawela: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $100 in Bandarawela. 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $25.00 in Bandarawela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $255 – making Bandarawela 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 Bandarawela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and in Bandarawela compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon, $593 in Bandarawela – roughly 287% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Bandarawela?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $889 in Bandarawela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Bandarawela?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandarawela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Bandarawela?
Kindergarten costs $616 per month in Lisbon and $36.37 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 Bandarawela, where all-in costs run around $593, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Bandarawela 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 Bandarawela?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $593 in Bandarawela to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Bandarawela 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 Bandarawela?
If budget matters most, go with Bandarawela. 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.