๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $736 in Cotabato City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,158 in Cotabato City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,580 in Cotabato City.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 205% more expensive than Cotabato City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Cotabato City is 45% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.45
$4.32โฑ262
264.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ54.0
$24.28โฑ1,469
160.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.82
$4.48โฑ271
130.36%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$2.04โฑ123
37.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$0.87โฑ52.4
167.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$0.53โฑ31.86
184.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.88
$1.46โฑ88.3
130.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$1.75โฑ106
123.43%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.07โฑ64.8
0.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$0.34โฑ20.34
414.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$0.84โฑ50.9
108.33%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.65
$2.01โฑ122
54.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.35
$6.18โฑ374
114.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.71
$3.32โฑ201
136.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.72
$7.21โฑ436
122.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.39โฑ84.4
71.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.03โฑ62.6
66.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$1.05โฑ63.3
87.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.18
$1.13โฑ68.2
125.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.27โฑ77.0
40.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.69
$1.47โฑ89.1
34.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.68
$0.51โฑ30.80
284.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.72
$0.56โฑ33.66
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.83
$0.90โฑ54.6
657.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ5.00
$8.28โฑ501
-29.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.36โฑ82.1
1.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.50
$1.54โฑ93.3
89.61%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.96
$0.26โฑ15.73
780.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ40.08
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.52
$0.86โฑ52.0
379.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.23โฑ13.90
252.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.20
$2.11โฑ128
797.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.14โฑ68.8
83.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$22.3Kโฑ1.4M
57.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ34.0K
$20.8Kโฑ1.3M
91.00%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$106โฑ6,385
41.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.52
$34.24โฑ2,072
-40.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.47
$36.31โฑ2,197
7.82%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.45
$34.32โฑ2,077
44.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.80
$4.33โฑ262
326.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.86
$3.10โฑ187
196.77%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ534
$121โฑ7,345
414.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$4,335โฑ262.3K
266.89%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.4
$45.35โฑ2,744
125.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.95
$30.23โฑ1,829
35.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.8
$79.1โฑ4,784
21.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ104
$68.0โฑ4,112
78.19%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,413
$266โฑ16.1K
521.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,054
$174โฑ10.5K
608.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,602
$580โฑ35.1K
424.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,761
$392โฑ23.7K
425.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,736
$2,222โฑ134.4K
254.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,679
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,339
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.56
-60.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Cotabato City: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $266 in Cotabato City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $24 in Cotabato City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $147 per month, with Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Cotabato City?
Cotabato City wins on cost โ living expenses run 205% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cotabato City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Cotabato City?
You'd need roughly $3,365 in Lisbon and $1,104 in Cotabato City 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Cotabato City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $266 in Cotabato City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Cotabato City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 83% 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 Cotabato City?
All in, you'll spend $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $736 in Cotabato City โ a 205% 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 Cotabato City?
At $736 in Cotabato City versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cotabato City but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cotabato City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Cotabato City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cotabato City delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $736 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cotabato City hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Cotabato City?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Cotabato City 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 Cotabato City gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 205% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.