😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $537 in Magelang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $837 in Magelang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,137 in Magelang.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 327% more expensive than in Magelang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Magelang is 61% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$1.38Rp 24.4K
1174.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$8.25Rp 146.1K
661.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$2.73Rp 48.3K
324.18%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$0.77Rp 13.6K
302.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.35Rp 6,229
611.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.18Rp 3,214
866.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.38Rp 24.4K
152.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.76Rp 48.8K
24.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.06Rp 18.8K
8.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.16Rp 20.6K
64.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$0.81Rp 14.3K
85.19%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.21Rp 21.4K
228.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$6.73Rp 119.2K
97.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$2.41Rp 42.7K
232.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$7.03Rp 124.4K
156.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.03Rp 35.9K
15.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.14Rp 20.2K
53.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.30Rp 23.0K
42.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$0.90Rp 16.0K
183.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.00Rp 17.7K
84.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.40Rp 24.8K
50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.77Rp 13.6K
93.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.37Rp 6,496
121.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$1.95Rp 34.6K
264.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$17.10Rp 302.7K
-65.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.52Rp 26.8K
-13.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.20Rp 39.0K
-3.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.29Rp 5,177
713.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$8.70Rp 154.1K
435.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.46Rp 8,164
786.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.35Rp 6,219
225.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$2.30Rp 40.7K
643.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.71Rp 12.5K
225.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$25.7KRp 455.8M
32.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$29.6KRp 524.1M
39.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$46.91Rp 830.6K
259.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$4.00Rp 70.9K
383.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$19.93Rp 352.9K
68.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$13.84Rp 245.1K
252.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$3.77Rp 66.8K
415.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$2.52Rp 44.6K
279.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$45.71Rp 809.3K
1422.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$3,913Rp 69.3M
343.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$20.17Rp 357.1K
422.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$20.11Rp 356.1K
137.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$57.9Rp 1.0M
73.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$54.6Rp 966.4K
128.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$232Rp 4.1M
617.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$158Rp 2.8M
689.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$568Rp 10.1M
422.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$373Rp 6.6M
449.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$1,201Rp 21.3M
552.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$664Rp 11.8M
572.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$178Rp 3.2M
814.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
7.5
-49.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Magelang: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $232 in Magelang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 815% 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 $8.00 in Magelang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $170 per month, with Magelang 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 Magelang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Magelang?
Lisbon and Magelang differ by about 327% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $537 including rent). Magelang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Magelang?
Average pay runs 815% 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 Magelang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $232 in Magelang. 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 Magelang?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $45.71 in Magelang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $537 in Magelang versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Magelang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Magelang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Magelang?
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 Magelang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Magelang 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 Magelang?
Expats usually find Magelang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 327% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.