😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $842 in Lapu-Lapu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,328 in Lapu-Lapu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,813 in Lapu-Lapu.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 172% more expensive than in Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Lapu-Lapu is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$4.53₱279
257.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$17.50₱1,077
261.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$4.45₱274
131.91%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.57₱158
10.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.79₱48.73
189.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.45₱27.73
251.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.53₱94.4
122.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.16₱133
86.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.64₱101
-33.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.38₱84.8
26.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.03₱63.5
70.87%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.33₱143
36.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$12.13₱747
8.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$5.32₱328
49.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$7.81₱481
98.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$3.24₱199
-26.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.38₱84.8
23.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.47₱152
-18.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.19₱135
10.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.30₱142
-23.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.83₱112
10.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.94₱57.7
104.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.84₱51.6
1.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$1.79₱110
267.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$3.43₱211
62.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.08₱66.4
23.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.27₱140
30.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.28₱17.41
714.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.86₱53.2
391.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.23₱14.04
252.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$2.65₱163
595.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.11₱68.2
87.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$24.9K₱1.5M
39.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$32.5K₱2.0M
20.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$95.8₱5,899
54.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$26.78₱1,649
-23.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$30.20₱1,859
30.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$45.06₱2,774
6.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$1.79₱110
939.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$6.04₱372
52.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$124₱7,629
397.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$1,779₱109.5K
823.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$47.16₱2,903
117.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$22.64₱1,394
84.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$75.4₱4,639
25.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$55.8₱3,436
118.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$335₱20.6K
387.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$239₱14.7K
415.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$825₱50.8K
275.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$508₱31.3K
299.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$235₱14.5K
582.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
8
-52.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Lapu-Lapu: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $335 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 583% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $17.00 in Lapu-Lapu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $216 per month, with Lapu-Lapu 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 Lapu-Lapu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Lapu-Lapu?
Lisbon and Lapu-Lapu differ by about 172% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $842 including rent). Lapu-Lapu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Lapu-Lapu?
Average pay runs 583% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Lapu-Lapu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $335 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Lapu-Lapu?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $124 in Lapu-Lapu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lapu-Lapu – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $842 in Lapu-Lapu versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lapu-Lapu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lapu-Lapu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Lapu-Lapu?
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 Lapu-Lapu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Lapu-Lapu 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 Lapu-Lapu?
Expats usually find Lapu-Lapu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.