😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,207 in Hirakata.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,887 in Hirakata.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,567 in Hirakata.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 83% more expensive than Hirakata, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Hirakata is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$7.06¥1,129
125.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$34.16¥5,464
89.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$5.75¥920
82.78%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.98¥476
-3.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.13¥181
98.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.70¥111
114.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$2.80¥448
24.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.19¥511
21.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.52¥243
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.43¥229
22.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$4.77¥764
-63.10%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.40¥384
34.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$10.60¥1,695
27.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.56¥1,049
20.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$15.30¥2,448
3.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$3.60¥576
-35.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.09¥335
-18.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.60¥415
-22.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$4.52¥724
-45.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.71¥274
7.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.29¥206
55.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.39¥222
38.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.90¥144
-12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$3.51¥562
88.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$9.26¥1,481
-38.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.10¥336
-34.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.34¥375
26.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.60¥257
48.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$55.5¥8,883
-17.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.43¥548
25.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.88¥461
-71.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$17.11¥2,737
6.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.20¥192
71.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$23.6K¥3.8M
45.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$17.2K¥2.8M
127.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$130¥20.8K
13.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$27.39¥4,381
-25.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$30.47¥4,874
30.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$56.0¥8,953
-14.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$13.69¥2,190
38.20%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$12.54¥2,005
-26.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$70.0¥11.2K
777.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$10.4K¥1.7M
54.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$44.58¥7,130
134.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$29.04¥4,645
44.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$56.4¥9,020
66.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$93.0¥14.9K
28.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$476¥76.1K
242.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$331¥53.0K
278.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$861¥137.7K
251.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$668¥106.8K
202.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$4,432¥708.8K
76.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$2,605¥416.6K
64.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hirakata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$1,877¥300.3K
-14.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
1.78
114.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Hirakata: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $476 in Hirakata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hirakata pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Hirakata. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $290, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Hirakata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Hirakata?
Lisbon and Hirakata differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,207 including rent). Hirakata is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Hirakata earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Hirakata?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $476 in Hirakata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and Hirakata?
A monthly transit pass in Hirakata runs roughly 22% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Hirakata?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $70.0 in Hirakata. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,207 in Hirakata versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hirakata but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Hirakata the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Hirakata?
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 Hirakata safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Hirakata 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 Hirakata?
Expats usually find Hirakata gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.