😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,289 in Kumamoto.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,981 in Kumamoto.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,672 in Kumamoto.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 77% more expensive than in Kumamoto, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Kumamoto is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$8.41¥1,325
87.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$34.71¥5,469
82.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$5.92¥933
76.52%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$3.10¥488
-6.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.72¥114
218.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.81¥127
85.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$1.70¥268
109.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.05¥323
93.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.35¥213
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.66¥261
6.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$4.28¥674
-60.28%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.14¥337
51.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$10.12¥1,594
30.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$6.26¥986
23.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$21.10¥3,324
-25.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$3.04¥479
-25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.42¥223
16.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.40¥221
44.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$5.94¥937
-58.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$2.82¥444
-36.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$3.14¥495
-34.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.98¥155
101.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.80¥125
3.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$3.81¥600
71.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$5.42¥854
2.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.98¥312
-32.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.02¥319
49.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$1.60¥253
41.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$55.7¥8,774
-16.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$4.76¥749
-11.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$2.95¥465
-71.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$19.45¥3,064
-3.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.20¥189
68.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$23.5K¥3.7M
48.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$20.0K¥3.1M
98.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$213¥33.5K
-30.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$26.88¥4,235
-23.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$36.03¥5,678
9.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$55.2¥8,695
-12.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$13.65¥2,151
34.73%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$13.81¥2,175
-34.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$408¥64.2K
50.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$13.6K¥2.1M
19.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$43.36¥6,833
134.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$29.73¥4,685
41.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$66.6¥10.5K
38.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$59.7¥9,402
104.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$461¥72.7K
249.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$332¥52.4K
277.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$867¥136.6K
254.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$663¥104.5K
206.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$3,684¥580.4K
110.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$1,930¥304.2K
122.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kumamoto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
1.67
128.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kumamoto: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $461 in Kumamoto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $35.00 in Kumamoto. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $293, 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 Kumamoto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Kumamoto?
Lisbon and Kumamoto differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,289 including rent). Kumamoto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Kumamoto?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,933 in Kumamoto 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 apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Kumamoto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $461 in Kumamoto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and in Kumamoto?
A monthly transit pass in Kumamoto runs roughly 20% 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 Kumamoto?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $408 in Kumamoto. 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 $1,289 in Kumamoto versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kumamoto but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kumamoto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Kumamoto?
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 Kumamoto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kumamoto 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 Kumamoto?
Expats usually find Kumamoto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.