Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Calama Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Calama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $623 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,267 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,912 in Calama.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 264% more expensive than in Calama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Calama is 55% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.12
$7.43 CLP 6,990
136.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$33.77 CLP 31.8K
90.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$2.12 CLP 1,994
53.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$0.92 CLP 869
170.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$0.94 CLP 880
77.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$3.23 CLP 3,038
7.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$5.30 CLP 4,987
-32.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.19 CLP 1,123
-0.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$0.85 CLP 796
129.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$2.72 CLP 2,561
-42.65%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$5.01 CLP 4,714
-19.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
$9.51 CLP 8,955
39.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$6.57 CLP 6,187
28.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$7.87 CLP 7,406
131.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.25 CLP 1,173
85.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.09 CLP 1,024
58.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$1.62 CLP 1,525
19.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$1.17 CLP 1,101
125.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$0.99 CLP 934
91.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$1.04 CLP 982
102.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$5.34 CLP 5,024
31.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$4.38 CLP 4,120
35.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.09 CLP 1,026
24.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.29 CLP 1,215
66.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$0.94 CLP 887
153.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$1.49 CLP 1,399
-26.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.57 CLP 1,480
43.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$42.85 CLP 40.3K
298.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$13.75 CLP 12.9K
149.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$53.1 CLP 50.0K
-6.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
$21.07 CLP 19.8K
-7.40%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$4.87 CLP 4,588
107.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$320 CLP 301.5K
118.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$38.10 CLP 35.9K
174.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$29.59 CLP 27.9K
62.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$47.34 CLP 44.5K
115.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$64.4 CLP 60.6K
99.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$353 CLP 332.5K
370.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$108 CLP 101.9K
1034.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$844 CLP 794.3K
245.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$639 CLP 601.4K
216.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
$1,487 CLP 1.4M
446.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
$1,299 CLP 1.2M
256.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$1,164 CLP 1.1M
39.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
5
-24.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Calama: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $353 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 39% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $183 per month, with Calama 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 Calama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Calama?
Calama wins on cost – living expenses run 264% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Calama?
Average pay runs 39% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Calama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $353 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Calama?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Calama?
All in, you'll spend $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $623 in Calama – a 264% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Calama?
At $623 in Calama versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calama but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Calama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Calama?
Both work as nomad bases, but Calama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $623 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calama hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Calama?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Calama 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Calama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 264% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities