Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and CalamaCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Calama
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,091 in Calama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,592 in Calama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,094 in Calama.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 103% more expensive than Calama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Calama is 19% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$7.90CLP 7,014
101.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$33.27CLP 29.5K
94.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.03CLP 7,127
30.88%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.14CLP 1,897
34.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.94CLP 833
138.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.96CLP 850
56.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$3.25CLP 2,885
7.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$4.05CLP 3,599
-4.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.17CLP 1,042
-2.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.58CLP 1,400
10.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.92CLP 1,701
-8.33%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.57CLP 3,172
-9.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$10.62CLP 9,424
27.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.78CLP 6,017
16.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$11.08CLP 9,833
43.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.89CLP 1,680
22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.51CLP 1,340
12.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.60CLP 1,422
25.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.49CLP 1,324
65.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.28CLP 1,140
43.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.40CLP 1,240
42.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.21CLP 1,072
59.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.19CLP 1,056
-33.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$5.34CLP 4,742
23.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$6.19CLP 5,497
-7.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.55CLP 1,379
-11.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.21CLP 1,965
34.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.62CLP 546
282.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.47CLP 420
812.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.52CLP 1,345
-46.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.57CLP 1,397
31.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$19.7KCLP 17.5M
74.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$21.8KCLP 19.4M
79.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$132CLP 116.9K
12.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$13.64CLP 12.1K
50.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$22.20CLP 19.7K
78.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$38.42CLP 34.1K
24.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$20.96CLP 18.6K
-9.73%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$5.76CLP 5,113
59.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$433CLP 383.9K
41.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$50.5CLP 44.8K
107.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$30.42CLP 27.0K
38.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$61.2CLP 54.3K
53.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$83.1CLP 73.7K
44.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$356CLP 316.0K
357.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$369CLP 327.1K
240.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$861CLP 764.2K
251.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$604CLP 535.7K
234.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$1,542CLP 1.4M
405.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$1,365CLP 1.2M
212.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Calama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$1,240CLP 1.1M
29.32%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Calama: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $356 in Calama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 29% 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 $33.00 in Calama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $231 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 103% 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 Calama?
Lisbon pays 29% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Calama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $356 in Calama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or 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 $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,091 in Calama – a 103% 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 Calama?
At $1,091 in Calama versus $2,210 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 $1,091 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 103% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.