Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Calamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Calamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $723 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,179 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,636 in Calamba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 206% more expensive than Calamba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Calamba is 46% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$3.58 ₱221
344.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$13.48 ₱831
380.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$2.58 ₱159
307.36%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.35 ₱145
22.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.69 ₱42.53
224.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.40 ₱24.83
275.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$1.00 ₱61.9
249.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.98 ₱122
95.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.85 ₱114
-38.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.21 ₱74.5
44.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.08 ₱66.4
62.96%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.20 ₱136
46.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$9.44 ₱582
42.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$3.71 ₱229
113.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$8.67 ₱535
83.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.71 ₱167
-14.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.78 ₱110
-4.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.36 ₱146
-14.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.22 ₱75.2
101.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.83 ₱113
0.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.19 ₱135
-8.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.68 ₱42.15
183.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.77 ₱47.33
2.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$3.30 ₱203
100.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$8.66 ₱534
-33.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.03 ₱63.3
33.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.34 ₱144
26.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.26 ₱15.98
811.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.90 ₱55.8
376.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.22 ₱13.54
272.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$2.41 ₱149
659.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.12 ₱69.1
83.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$31.3K ₱1.9M
9.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$20.1K ₱1.2M
95.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$144 ₱8,890
2.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$34.60 ₱2,134
-40.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$26.46 ₱1,632
49.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$33.99 ₱2,096
40.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$4.41 ₱272
329.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$5.80 ₱358
58.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$153 ₱9,416
302.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$4,663 ₱287.5K
244.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$49.35 ₱3,043
112.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$28.02 ₱1,728
50.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$76.5 ₱4,718
22.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$47.46 ₱2,926
152.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$123 ₱7,577
1224.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$79.2 ₱4,882
1485.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$587 ₱36.2K
416.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$391 ₱24.1K
416.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,695 ₱166.2K
189.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$1,000 ₱61.6K
327.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$257 ₱15.8K
524.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.5
-15.33%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calamba: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $123 in Calamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 525% 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 $13.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $205 per month, with Calamba 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 Calamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Calamba?
Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 206% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Calamba?
Lisbon pays 525% 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 Calamba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $123 in Calamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Calamba?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% 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 Calamba?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $723 in Calamba – a 206% 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 Calamba?
At $723 in Calamba versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Calamba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Calamba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Calamba?
Both work as nomad bases, but Calamba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $723 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Calamba hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Calamba?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Calamba 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 Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 206% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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