Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Chilanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Chilanga
Monthly Cost of Living
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $638 in Chilanga.
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $958 in Chilanga.
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,278 in Chilanga.
Living in Lisbon is roughly 249% more expensive than Chilanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Chilanga is 52% below.
đ˝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 âŹ13.84
$7.35 ZMWÂ 140
120.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 âŹ55.3
$24.59 ZMWÂ 467
162.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 âŹ8.88
$3.62 ZMWÂ 68.7
186.74%
Cappuccino
$2.77 âŹ2.37
$2.00 ZMWÂ 37.89
38.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 âŹ1.92
$0.68 ZMWÂ 12.86
230.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 âŹ1.35
$0.36 ZMWÂ 6.84
336.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 âŹ2.99
$0.94 ZMWÂ 17.90
271.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 âŹ3.43
$1.74 ZMWÂ 33.00
129.89%
đ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 âŹ0.93
$1.29 ZMWÂ 24.39
-16.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 âŹ1.49
$0.80 ZMWÂ 15.20
117.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 âŹ1.49
$1.58 ZMWÂ 29.96
10.13%
Eggs
$3.18 âŹ2.72
$1.79 ZMWÂ 34.00
77.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 âŹ11.50
$7.72 ZMWÂ 147
73.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 âŹ6.84
$3.92 ZMWÂ 74.4
103.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 âŹ13.77
$4.64 ZMWÂ 88.2
246.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 âŹ1.95
$2.56 ZMWÂ 48.67
-10.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 âŹ1.48
$1.67 ZMWÂ 31.65
2.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 âŹ1.66
$2.77 ZMWÂ 52.5
-29.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 âŹ2.18
$1.16 ZMWÂ 22.06
118.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 âŹ1.57
$1.90 ZMWÂ 36.14
-3.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 âŹ1.75
$1.37 ZMWÂ 25.97
48.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 âŹ1.69
$0.93 ZMWÂ 17.62
112.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 âŹ0.73
$0.51 ZMWÂ 9.69
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 âŹ5.87
$2.54 ZMWÂ 48.26
169.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 âŹ4.94
$8.02 ZMWÂ 152
-27.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 âŹ1.18
$1.13 ZMWÂ 21.45
21.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 âŹ2.48
$1.49 ZMWÂ 28.36
94.63%
đ Getting Around
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 âŹ1.95
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 âŹ40.10
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 âŹ3.49
$2.76 ZMWÂ 52.4
47.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 âŹ0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 âŹ15.64
$9.43 ZMWÂ 179
93.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 âŹ1.72
$1.24 ZMWÂ 23.54
62.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K âŹ30.2K
$7,908 ZMWÂ 150.1K
345.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K âŹ32.9K
$28.9K ZMWÂ 547.8K
33.36%
đ§ž Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 âŹ124
$89.6 ZMWÂ 1,701
62.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 âŹ17.94
$53.3 ZMWÂ 1,012
-60.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 âŹ34.29
$123 ZMWÂ 2,341
-67.53%
đ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 âŹ41.76
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 âŹ16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 âŹ7.76
$4.28 ZMWÂ 81.3
111.68%
𧸠Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 âŹ519
$174 ZMWÂ 3,301
248.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K âŹ14.0K
$9,494 ZMWÂ 180.2K
72.01%
đđ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 âŹ89.6
$18.67 ZMWÂ 354
460.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 âŹ35.06
$17.11 ZMWÂ 325
139.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 âŹ80.1
$85.1 ZMWÂ 1,614
10.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 âŹ101
$73.5 ZMWÂ 1,394
61.40%
đ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 âŹ1,373
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 âŹ1,058
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 âŹ2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 âŹ1,761
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 âŹ6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 âŹ3,652
-
-
đľ Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 âŹ1,356
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
25
-84.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Chilanga: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $174 per month, with Chilanga 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 Chilanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Chilanga?
Lisbon and Chilanga differ by about 249% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $638 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Chilanga?
You'd need roughly $3,341 in Lisbon and $957 in Chilanga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Chilanga?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $174 in Chilanga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Chilanga â a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $638 in Chilanga versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chilanga but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Chilanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Chilanga?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Chilanga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Chilanga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Chilanga?
Expats usually find Chilanga gentler on the wallet â expenses run 249% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared
Lisbon
đľđš Portugal
$2,227
/mo nomad
Bangkok
đšđ Thailand
$1,048
/mo nomad
Lisbon
đľđš Portugal
$2,227
/mo nomad
Cape Town
đżđŚ South Africa
$1,276
/mo nomad
Lisbon
đľđš Portugal
$2,227
/mo nomad
Porto
đľđš Portugal
$1,883
/mo nomad
Lisbon
đľđš Portugal
$2,227
/mo nomad
Medellin
đ¨đ´ Colombia
$1,034
/mo nomad
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