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: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,083 in Calama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,617 in Calama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,150 in Calama.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 112% more expensive than in Calama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Calama is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.17
$8.15 CLP 7,591
98.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.4
$33.33 CLP 31.0K
90.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.03
$7.90 CLP 7,356
30.63%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.11 CLP 1,963
34.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$0.98 CLP 914
133.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.93 CLP 865
69.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$3.29 CLP 3,067
3.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$4.15 CLP 3,862
-2.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.23 CLP 1,148
-11.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.52 CLP 1,419
15.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.89 CLP 1,756
-6.88%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$3.51 CLP 3,267
-9.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.54
$10.63 CLP 9,897
24.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.97
$6.53 CLP 6,083
22.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.59
$11.08 CLP 10.3K
40.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.90 CLP 1,766
24.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.51 CLP 1,404
13.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.52 CLP 1,419
32.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.45 CLP 1,348
67.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.24 CLP 1,153
41.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.39 CLP 1,297
46.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.22 CLP 1,141
57.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.17 CLP 1,091
-27.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$5.28 CLP 4,921
24.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.88
$5.92 CLP 5,512
-5.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.60 CLP 1,487
-16.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$2.22 CLP 2,071
33.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.59 CLP 548
286.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.06
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$0.51 CLP 471
729.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.53 CLP 1,420
-47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.13
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.54 CLP 1,438
35.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$19.6K CLP 18.3M
76.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$21.7K CLP 20.2M
80.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$131 CLP 121.7K
13.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.90
$13.71 CLP 12.8K
49.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.61
$22.29 CLP 20.8K
77.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.99
$38.39 CLP 35.8K
25.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.27
$21.55 CLP 20.1K
-13.69%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.07
$5.70 CLP 5,309
61.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €539
$432 CLP 402.4K
42.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.9
$50.6 CLP 47.1K
103.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.52
$30.49 CLP 28.4K
36.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.9
$62.8 CLP 58.5K
50.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$82.9 CLP 77.1K
47.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,428
$352 CLP 327.5K
364.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,078
$378 CLP 351.8K
226.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,711
$847 CLP 788.6K
265.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,777
$590 CLP 549.4K
244.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,851
$1,467 CLP 1.4M
433.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,840
$1,276 CLP 1.2M
243.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,406
$1,160 CLP 1.1M
38.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.18
-26.45%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Calama: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $352 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $229 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 112% 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: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $352 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 17% 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 $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $1,083 in Calama – a 112% 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 $1,083 in Calama versus $2,291 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 $1,083 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 112% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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