Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kegalle Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kegalle
Monthly Cost of Living
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $512 in Kegalle.
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $828 in Kegalle.
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $1,143 in Kegalle.
Living in Lisbon is roughly 353% more expensive than in Kegalle, driven mainly by Eating Out.
The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Kegalle is 63% below.
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 €14.89
$4.43 LKR 1,452
290.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €54.4
$23.88 LKR 7,834
164.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 €9.80
$7.71 LKR 2,530
47.73%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.75
$2.49 LKR 817
28.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.10
$0.73 LKR 240
235.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.52
$0.25 LKR 82.0
604.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 €3.09
$2.26 LKR 743
58.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.92
$3.10 LKR 1,016
9.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.06
$1.67 LKR 549
-25.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.71
$0.53 LKR 174
273.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 €1.31
$0.78 LKR 256
94.87%
Eggs
$4.04 €3.48
$1.66 LKR 546
143.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.54 €11.65
$13.36 LKR 4,383
1.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 €7.22
$4.85 LKR 1,590
72.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.25 €15.70
$7.36 LKR 2,415
147.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$6.66 LKR 2,185
-65.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$0.87 LKR 286
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$4.25 LKR 1,394
-56.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 €2.26
$1.23 LKR 403
113.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.05 LKR 344
82.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$0.80 LKR 264
161.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$0.88 LKR 290
63.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.72
$0.49 LKR 160
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.83
$10.54 LKR 3,458
-35.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 €4.91
$13.80 LKR 4,526
-58.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.18
$2.00 LKR 655
-31.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.91
$2.81 LKR 923
-21.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 €2.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.78 €40.25
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 €3.59
$0.42 LKR 136
892.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.98
$0.35 LKR 115
225.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.68 €15.21
$0.93 LKR 306
1801.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.31 LKR 431
77.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.4K
$29.9K LKR 9.8M
18.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.7K
$42.4K LKR 13.9M
-2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 €147
$53.9 LKR 17.7K
215.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34 €16.64
$4.17 LKR 1,368
363.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64 €28.95
$20.61 LKR 6,762
63.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.10 €41.39
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90 €17.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 €8.54
$4.47 LKR 1,467
121.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$717 €617
$38.27 LKR 12.6K
1774.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K €15.0K
$1,203 LKR 394.5K
1353.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$20.08 LKR 6,588
421.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95 €40.40
$16.76 LKR 5,497
180.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €89.0
$81.1 LKR 26.6K
27.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$42.80 LKR 14.0K
189.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 €1,443
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,094
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,985 €2,568
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 €1,715
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,826 €6,734
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,658 €4,008
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kegalle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,583 €1,362
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
12.69
-70.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Kegalle: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $24.00 in Kegalle for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $237 per month, with Kegalle 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 Kegalle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Kegalle?
Kegalle wins on cost – living expenses run 353% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kegalle the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Kegalle?
You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $768 in Kegalle 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 do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Kegalle?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $38.27 in Kegalle. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Kegalle?
Dining out is cheaper in Kegalle – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Kegalle?
At $512 in Kegalle versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kegalle but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kegalle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Kegalle?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kegalle delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $512 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kegalle hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Kegalle?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kegalle 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 Kegalle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 353% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
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