Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Busia Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Busia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $79.6 in Busia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $133 in Busia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $185 in Busia.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 2780% more expensive than in Busia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Busia is 94% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.17

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.03

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.48

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

$2.29 €2.00

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.95

$0.32 UGX 1,180

240.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

$1.43 UGX 5,285

22.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

$1.64 UGX 6,073

93.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.54

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.97

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.59

$4.06 UGX 15.0K

282.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$2.74 UGX 10.1K

-13.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.76

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.13

$0.86 UGX 3,174

182.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

$1.69 UGX 6,239

20.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

$0.27 UGX 996

214.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.76

$1.26 UGX 4,673

422.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.88

$5.53 UGX 20.5K

0.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.17

$1.08 UGX 3,994

23.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

$1.37 UGX 5,053

116.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.06

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

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

$34.7K €30.3K

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

$39.2K €34.3K

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

$148 €130

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

$20.46 €17.90

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.61

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €41.99

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.27

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.07

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

$616 €539

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €89.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.52

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €82.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,428

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,078

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,711

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,777

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,851

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,840

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,406

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Busia: July 12, 2026

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 Busia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Busia wins on cost – living expenses run 2780% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Busia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $119 in Busia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 234% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $79.6 in Busia – a 2780% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $79.6 in Busia versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Busia but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Busia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Busia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $79.6 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Busia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Busia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Busia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2780% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.