😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $739 in Cotabato City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $1,153 in Cotabato City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $1,567 in Cotabato City.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 199% more expensive than in Cotabato City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Cotabato City is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.80
$4.34₱268
261.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.2
$24.27₱1,498
159.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.25
$4.51₱278
133.48%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$2.12₱131
35.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.98
$0.81₱50.1
177.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.37
$0.49₱30.52
218.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.98
$1.38₱85.1
145.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.42
$1.73₱107
125.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$1.04₱64.1
3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.52
$0.34₱20.98
408.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$0.83₱51.2
112.05%
Eggs
$3.16€2.78
$2.08₱129
51.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.68
$6.12₱378
117.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.92
$3.36₱207
134.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.92
$7.14₱441
121.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$1.40₱86.4
71.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.50
$1.09₱67.1
55.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.08₱66.7
87.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$1.16₱71.7
117.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.21₱74.7
53.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$1.55₱95.8
32.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.76
$0.55₱34.06
263.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.69
$0.60₱36.99
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.84
$0.85₱52.7
682.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.08
$7.96₱492
-27.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.22
$1.36₱84.0
1.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.65
$1.54₱95.2
96.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.05
$0.26₱16.02
796.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.94
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.58
$0.93₱57.2
338.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$0.25₱15.50
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.38
$2.18₱135
755.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.76
$1.09₱67.3
83.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.1K
$22.5K₱1.4M
57.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.3K
$20.6K₱1.3M
89.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$102₱6,311
46.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.06
$34.33₱2,119
-40.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.66
$36.81₱2,272
7.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.23
$34.30₱2,117
40.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.43
$4.52₱279
313.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.17
$3.28₱202
183.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€552
$121₱7,497
417.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.5K
$4,319₱266.6K
280.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.2
$45.25₱2,793
124.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.51
$29.55₱1,824
40.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.3
$76.8₱4,738
20.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€108
$69.5₱4,290
76.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,430
$269₱16.6K
504.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,083
$179₱11.1K
587.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,747
$577₱35.6K
441.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,808
$391₱24.1K
426.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,821
$2,723₱168.1K
185.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,854
$888₱54.8K
393.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cotabato City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,425
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.56
-60.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Last update for Cotabato City: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $269 in Cotabato City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $24.00 in Cotabato City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $148 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 – living expenses run 199% 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 and in Cotabato City?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,108 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 compared to Cotabato City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $269 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 in Cotabato City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 82% 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 $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $739 in Cotabato City – a 199% 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 Cotabato City?
At $739 in Cotabato City versus $2,210 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 – similar infrastructure at $739 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 – expenses run 199% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.