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: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $696 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,181 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,665 in Calamba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 229% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Calamba is 48% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.17
$3.64 ₱224
344.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.4
$13.16 ₱810
381.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.03
$2.58 ₱159
300.00%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.39 ₱147
18.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$0.65 ₱40.01
252.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.41 ₱24.98
285.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$1.05 ₱64.6
223.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$2.00 ₱123
101.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.86 ₱115
-41.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.19 ₱73.1
47.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.10 ₱67.8
60.00%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.29 ₱141
38.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.54
$9.38 ₱578
40.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.97
$3.82 ₱235
108.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.59
$8.37 ₱516
85.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$2.67 ₱164
-11.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.86 ₱115
-8.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.37 ₱146
-15.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.16 ₱71.4
109.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.82 ₱112
-3.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.19 ₱135
-7.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.68 ₱42.08
182.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.72 ₱44.36
18.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$3.36 ₱207
95.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.88
$8.77 ₱540
-36.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.04 ₱63.8
27.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$2.34 ₱144
26.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.26 ₱15.88
776.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.06
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$0.87 ₱53.8
386.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.22 ₱13.53
268.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.13
$2.42 ₱149
661.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.15 ₱70.8
80.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$32.0K ₱2.0M
8.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$20.6K ₱1.3M
89.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$147 ₱9,069
0.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.90
$34.10 ₱2,099
-40.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.61
$25.99 ₱1,600
52.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.99
$34.44 ₱2,120
39.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.27
$4.56 ₱281
307.89%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.07
$5.65 ₱348
63.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €539
$153 ₱9,390
303.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$4,800 ₱295.5K
242.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.9
$49.68 ₱3,058
106.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.52
$27.12 ₱1,670
53.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.9
$74.8 ₱4,605
26.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$46.97 ₱2,892
159.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,428
$124 ₱7,616
1219.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,078
$81.2 ₱4,998
1418.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,711
$591 ₱36.4K
424.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,777
$397 ₱24.4K
412.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Calamba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,406
$258 ₱15.9K
523.17%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Calamba: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $124 in Calamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 523% 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 $13.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 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 229% 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 523% 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 Calamba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $124 in Calamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Calamba?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% 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 $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $696 in Calamba – a 229% 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 $696 in Calamba versus $2,291 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 $696 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 229% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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