Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and KawagoeCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kawagoe
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,221 in Kawagoe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,977 in Kawagoe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $2,733 in Kawagoe.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 86% more expensive than in Kawagoe, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Kawagoe is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.13
$6.63¥1,017
164.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$42.66¥6,546
51.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$5.12¥786
127.54%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$3.50¥538
-6.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.93¥143
167.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.50¥77.4
234.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$1.93¥296
79.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$2.81¥431
27.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.19¥183
-0.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.29¥198
51.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$3.79¥581
-58.84%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.13¥327
88.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.45
$6.34¥973
109.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$6.04¥927
39.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$14.80¥2,271
23.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$5.95¥912
-61.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$2.33¥358
-25.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$2.91¥446
-33.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.28
$3.23¥495
-18.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$2.71¥416
-29.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.92¥295
9.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.27¥195
13.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.77¥118
3.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$3.99¥612
75.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$4.89¥750
21.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.86¥285
-26.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.09¥321
2.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$3.09¥474
-22.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.86
$162¥24.8K
-71.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$3.31¥508
26.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$2.56¥393
-57.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$21.09¥3,236
-18.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.11¥170
102.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$16.1K¥2.5M
114.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$13.1K¥2.0M
217.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$137¥21.0K
24.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.39
$22.78¥3,496
-16.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.56
$33.01¥5,064
3.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.81
$44.88¥6,887
10.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.82
$32.59¥5,000
-40.14%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$11.43¥1,754
-11.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$325¥49.9K
114.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$6,361¥975.9K
179.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$32.02¥4,913
226.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.36
$33.49¥5,139
43.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$45.80¥7,027
122.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$97.2¥14.9K
31.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,433
$419¥64.3K
296.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$281¥43.2K
336.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,514
$874¥134.1K
233.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,745
$609¥93.4K
232.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,010
$2,546¥390.6K
219.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,997
$1,288¥197.7K
259.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kawagoe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$1,638¥251.3K
-1.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
1.6
136.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Kawagoe: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $419 in Kawagoe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kawagoe pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $43.00 in Kawagoe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $263 per month, with Kawagoe 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 Kawagoe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Kawagoe?
Lisbon and Kawagoe differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $1,221 including rent). Kawagoe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Kawagoe. 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 in Kawagoe?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $419 in Kawagoe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kawagoe – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $64.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Kawagoe?
All in, you'll spend $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $1,221 in Kawagoe – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,221 in Kawagoe versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kawagoe but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kawagoe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Kawagoe?
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 Kawagoe safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kawagoe 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 Kawagoe?
Expats usually find Kawagoe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.