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: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $528 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $775 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $1,021 in Calamba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 339% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Calamba is 62% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 €14.87
$3.91 ₱245
342.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €54.4
$12.20 ₱763
418.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 €9.79
$2.80 ₱175
306.79%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.74
$1.78 ₱111
79.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.10
$0.56 ₱35.07
337.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.52
$0.32 ₱19.98
450.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 €3.09
$0.88 ₱55.2
307.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.92
$1.64 ₱102
106.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.06
$1.68 ₱105
-26.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.71
$1.11 ₱69.4
78.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 €1.31
$1.01 ₱63.2
50.50%
Eggs
$4.04 €3.47
$2.10 ₱131
92.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.54 €11.64
$5.05 ₱316
168.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 €7.21
$3.36 ₱210
149.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.25 €15.69
$7.70 ₱482
137.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.20 ₱138
4.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$1.61 ₱100
8.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$2.31 ₱145
-19.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 €2.26
$1.05 ₱65.4
150.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.70 ₱106
12.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.73 ₱108
20.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$0.66 ₱41.13
118.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.72
$0.50 ₱31.26
68.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.83
$2.94 ₱184
130.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 €4.91
$8.65 ₱541
-33.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$0.91 ₱56.8
51.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.91
$2.00 ₱125
11.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 €2.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.78 €40.22
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 €3.59
$0.82 ₱51.4
408.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.98
$0.25 ₱15.65
356.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.68 €15.20
$1.97 ₱123
797.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.00
$0.94 ₱58.8
146.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.4K
$21.8K ₱1.4M
62.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.6K
$19.3K ₱1.2M
114.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 €146
$144 ₱8,992
18.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34 €16.62
$17.74 ₱1,110
9.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64 €28.92
$23.94 ₱1,497
40.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.10 €41.35
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90 €17.11
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 €8.53
$5.12 ₱320
93.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$717 €617
$135 ₱8,450
430.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K €15.0K
$10.9K ₱684.6K
59.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$29.37 ₱1,836
256.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95 €40.36
$19.59 ₱1,225
139.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €88.9
$71.4 ₱4,462
44.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$55.8 ₱3,492
121.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 €1,441
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,093
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,985 €2,566
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 €1,713
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,826 €6,728
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,658 €4,004
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,583 €1,361
$260 ₱16.3K
508.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
6.75
-43.85%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calamba: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 508% 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 $12.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $174 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 339% 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 in Calamba?
Average pay runs 508% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Calamba?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% 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 $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $528 in Calamba – a 339% 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 Calamba?
At $528 in Calamba versus $2,316 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 $528 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 339% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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