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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $81.4 in Busia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $134 in Busia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $186 in Busia.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 2616% more expensive than Busia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Busia is 94% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

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

$2.24 €1.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

$0.35 UGX 1,298

225.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

$1.36 UGX 5,124

28.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$1.68 UGX 6,329

91.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

$4.22 UGX 15.9K

276.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

$2.83 UGX 10.6K

-18.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

$0.86 UGX 3,238

186.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

$1.65 UGX 6,201

21.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

$0.27 UGX 1,003

192.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

$1.29 UGX 4,841

412.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

$5.45 UGX 20.5K

4.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

$1.08 UGX 4,072

26.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

$1.41 UGX 5,320

110.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

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

$34.3K €29.5K

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

$39.3K €33.8K

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

$148 €127

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

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

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

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

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 Busia: June 2, 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 2616% 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 $3,315 in Lisbon and $122 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 235% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $81.4 in Busia – a 2616% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $81.4 in Busia versus $2,210 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 $81.4 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 2616% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.