😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $296 in Kottayam, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $486 in Kottayam, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $676 in Kottayam, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 674% more than Kottayam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Kottayam is 78% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$1.18₹113
1272.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$9.68₹932
554.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$3.98₹384
159.30%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$0.60₹58.2
371.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.37₹35.92
518.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.13₹12.62
1115.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.37₹132
148.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.96₹285
36.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$0.59₹57.0
84.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.44₹42.29
297.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.77₹74.2
128.57%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$0.87₹84.1
264.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$2.38₹229
454.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$3.03₹292
163.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.38₹229
-0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.61₹58.6
180.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.14₹110
76.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.49₹46.83
395.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.51₹48.89
245.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.45₹43.66
351.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.42₹40.84
357.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.35₹34.04
142.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$4.04₹389
62.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$3.81₹367
46.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.71₹164
-22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.57₹344
-16.81%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.68₹450
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.28₹26.82
714.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$8.88₹854
415.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.18₹114
258.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.30₹28.42
170.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$1.64₹158
1024.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.17₹112
77.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$9,304₹895.7K
272.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$15.3K₹1.5M
155.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$27.02₹2,601
447.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$3.43₹330
496.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$8.15₹785
385.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$8.87₹854
441.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$11.74₹1,130
58.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$2.08₹200
343.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$57.2₹5,509
976.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$1,537₹147.9K
969.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$23.58₹2,270
335.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$17.57₹1,691
137.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$25.53₹2,458
271.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$17.31₹1,666
604.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$141₹13.6K
1055.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$58.9₹5,672
1991.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$288₹27.8K
974.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$161₹15.5K
1164.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$954₹91.8K
721.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$556₹53.6K
688.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kottayam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$284₹27.4K
465.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.36
-59.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Kottayam: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $141 in Kottayam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 466% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $10.00 in Kottayam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $93.0 – making Kottayam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kottayam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Kottayam?
Lisbon costs about 674% more than Kottayam, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Kottayam?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $444 in Kottayam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Kottayam?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kottayam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Kottayam?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,291 in Lisbon and $296 in Kottayam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Kottayam?
Public transport costs about 416% less in Kottayam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Kottayam?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kottayam, where all-in costs run around $296, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Kottayam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Kottayam?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kottayam costs $296 versus $2,291 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Kottayam?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Kottayam?
If budget matters most, go with Kottayam. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.