😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $600 in Chilanga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $955 in Chilanga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,310 in Chilanga.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 283% more expensive than in Chilanga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Chilanga is 56% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$5.89ZMW 115
198.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$30.85ZMW 603
103.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$5.15ZMW 101
124.85%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.86ZMW 55.8
8.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.80ZMW 15.68
211.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.50ZMW 9.84
248.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.28ZMW 24.99
171.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.41ZMW 47.02
42.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.83ZMW 35.68
-37.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.26ZMW 24.70
51.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$2.10ZMW 41.08
-28.57%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$2.03ZMW 39.58
96.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$10.83ZMW 211
22.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$6.39ZMW 125
25.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$6.61ZMW 129
172.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$3.47ZMW 67.8
-32.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.55ZMW 49.80
-31.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$3.69ZMW 72.0
-49.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.62ZMW 31.62
57.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$2.59ZMW 50.6
-28.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.85ZMW 36.06
13.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.15ZMW 22.50
29.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.82ZMW 16.10
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$3.05ZMW 59.5
132.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$10.23ZMW 200
-42.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.45ZMW 28.26
-9.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.34ZMW 45.79
-8.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$2.69ZMW 52.5
51.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.60ZMW 31.22
-28.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$5.19ZMW 101
229.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.62ZMW 31.61
42.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$7,842ZMW 153.1K
335.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$27.0KZMW 528.2K
52.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$83.2ZMW 1,625
102.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$10.89ZMW 213
77.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$57.8ZMW 1,129
-42.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$6.08ZMW 119
57.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$141ZMW 2,754
393.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$16.9KZMW 329.1K
2.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$24.11ZMW 471
336.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$15.96ZMW 312
199.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$46.08ZMW 900
118.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$75.1ZMW 1,468
65.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Chilanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
29
-86.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Chilanga: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $31.00 in Chilanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $246 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 in Chilanga?
Lisbon and Chilanga differ by about 283% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $600 including rent). Chilanga is meaningfully more affordable – 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 $3,444 in Lisbon and $900 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $141 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 – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $63.0 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 $600 in Chilanga versus $2,296 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 – 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 – expenses run 283% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.