😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,160 in Kamakura.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,827 in Kamakura.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,494 in Kamakura.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 100% more expensive than in Kamakura, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Kamakura is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.87
$6.10¥950
183.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$30.78¥4,790
105.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.79
$5.03¥782
126.44%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.74
$2.45¥382
30.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.04¥161
135.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.80¥124
120.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.56¥399
40.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.08¥480
10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.43¥223
-13.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.48¥231
33.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$3.51¥547
-56.70%
Eggs
$4.04€3.47
$2.04¥318
98.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.64
$11.70¥1,821
15.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.21
$6.11¥951
37.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.69
$14.18¥2,206
28.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$5.46¥850
-58.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.76¥430
-36.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.89¥450
-35.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$4.06¥631
-35.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.57¥400
-25.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.60¥404
-19.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.16¥180
24.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.76¥118
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$3.85¥599
76.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$6.11¥951
-6.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.73¥269
-20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.09¥325
6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$1.43¥222
67.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.22
$61.1¥9,509
-23.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$3.15¥490
32.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.53¥395
-54.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.20
$15.53¥2,417
13.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.05¥164
120.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$21.5K¥3.4M
64.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.6K
$15.2K¥2.4M
172.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€146
$115¥17.8K
48.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.62
$22.79¥3,547
-15.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.92
$31.02¥4,827
8.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.35
$49.61¥7,721
-3.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.11
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.53
$12.63¥1,966
-21.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$562¥87.5K
27.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$14.4K¥2.2M
21.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$49.25¥7,665
112.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.36
$32.37¥5,038
45.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$59.0¥9,183
75.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$98.8¥15.4K
25.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,441
$526¥81.9K
218.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,093
$311¥48.4K
308.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,566
$931¥144.8K
220.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,713
$829¥129.1K
140.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,728
$4,636¥721.6K
68.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,004
$1,794¥279.1K
159.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kamakura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,361
$1,755¥273.1K
-9.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
1.66
128.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Kamakura: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $526 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kamakura pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $31.00 in Kamakura. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $287, 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 Kamakura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kamakura cheaper than Lisbon?
Kamakura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 100% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Kamakura?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Kamakura. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Kamakura?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $526 in Kamakura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $562 in Kamakura. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Kamakura?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Kamakura?
At $1,160 in Kamakura versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamakura but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kamakura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Kamakura more family-friendly?
For families, Kamakura is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Kamakura?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kamakura 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kamakura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.