Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Magelang Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Magelang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $578 in Magelang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $892 in Magelang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,206 in Magelang.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 292% more expensive than Magelang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Magelang is 57% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
962.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$9.40 Rp 168.4K
574.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$2.96 Rp 53.1K
250.68%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
228.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$0.38 Rp 6,881
515.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.16 Rp 2,954
881.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$1.46 Rp 26.2K
134.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$2.93 Rp 52.4K
33.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.10 Rp 19.7K
-1.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.21 Rp 21.6K
46.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$0.87 Rp 15.6K
96.55%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
110.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$7.17 Rp 128.4K
90.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$2.64 Rp 47.4K
203.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$7.81 Rp 139.8K
98.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$2.26 Rp 40.6K
1.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.24 Rp 22.2K
32.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
39.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
148.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.07 Rp 19.2K
67.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
34.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
131.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.40 Rp 7,119
110.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$2.54 Rp 45.5K
167.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$16.80 Rp 301.1K
-66.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.70 Rp 30.4K
-18.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$2.40 Rp 43.0K
25.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.33 Rp 5,831
587.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
$9.90 Rp 177.4K
358.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$0.44 Rp 7,895
875.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.29 Rp 5,176
193.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$2.39 Rp 42.8K
664.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
158.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$28.7K Rp 513.8M
22.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$31.7K Rp 567.5M
24.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$50.7 Rp 908.4K
188.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$4.18 Rp 74.9K
389.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$19.23 Rp 344.5K
102.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$14.85 Rp 266.0K
229.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$3.90 Rp 69.9K
382.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
251.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$49.85 Rp 893.1K
1119.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$4,285 Rp 76.8M
285.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$21.81 Rp 390.7K
376.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$21.16 Rp 379.2K
99.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$64.1 Rp 1.1M
43.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$58.6 Rp 1.1M
104.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$259 Rp 4.6M
525.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$160 Rp 2.9M
692.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$575 Rp 10.3M
430.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$337 Rp 6.0M
496.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$1,146 Rp 20.5M
568.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$678 Rp 12.1M
538.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$169 Rp 3.0M
836.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8.33
-54.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Magelang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $259 in Magelang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 837% 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 $9.00 in Magelang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $181 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 Magelang?
Lisbon and Magelang differ by about 292% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $578 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?
Lisbon pays 837% more on average, 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 Magelang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $259 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $49.85 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 48% 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 $578 in Magelang versus $2,263 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 292% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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