😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $529 in Beruwala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $853 in Beruwala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,177 in Beruwala.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 321% more expensive than Beruwala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Beruwala is 60% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$3.98LKR 1,270
306.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$25.01LKR 7,975
158.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.52LKR 2,718
21.83%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.71LKR 865
2.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.68LKR 216
230.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.38LKR 120
313.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.40LKR 767
45.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$3.33LKR 1,061
20.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.76LKR 561
-38.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.52LKR 167
234.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$0.81LKR 259
114.81%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.21LKR 705
43.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$14.12LKR 4,504
-4.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.56LKR 1,454
75.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.96LKR 2,540
102.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$7.66LKR 2,444
-70.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.06LKR 340
62.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$5.75LKR 1,834
-66.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.26LKR 401
101.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.12LKR 356
63.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.35LKR 430
51.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.14LKR 362
73.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.57LKR 181
49.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$9.98LKR 3,181
-31.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$12.49LKR 3,984
-53.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.11LKR 673
-35.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.93LKR 934
-1.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.39LKR 124
946.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.33LKR 105
148.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$0.58LKR 184
3050.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.20LKR 382
67.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$26.5KLKR 8.4M
33.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$34.1KLKR 10.9M
12.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$60.2LKR 19.2K
141.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$4.22LKR 1,346
396.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$15.17LKR 4,839
164.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$3.33LKR 1,062
172.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$36.65LKR 11.7K
1554.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$447LKR 142.5K
3555.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$27.45LKR 8,755
281.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$19.12LKR 6,099
114.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$70.0LKR 22.3K
33.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$39.47LKR 12.6K
200.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Beruwala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$155LKR 49.5K
919.89%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Beruwala: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Lisbon pays 920% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $257 per month, with Beruwala 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 Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beruwala cheaper than Lisbon?
Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 321% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Beruwala?
Lisbon pays 920% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Beruwala?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Beruwala?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $529 in Beruwala – a 321% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Beruwala?
At $529 in Beruwala versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beruwala but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Beruwala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Beruwala more family-friendly?
For families, Beruwala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Beruwala?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Beruwala 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 321% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.