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: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $565 in Magelang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $875 in Magelang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,186 in Magelang.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 294% more expensive than Magelang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Magelang is 58% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$1.51 Rp 26.2K
970.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$9.16 Rp 158.7K
604.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$2.95 Rp 51.1K
251.86%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
229.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$0.36 Rp 6,168
525.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.20 Rp 3,461
685.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$1.51 Rp 26.2K
131.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$3.06 Rp 53.0K
30.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.16 Rp 20.1K
-6.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.25 Rp 21.7K
39.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$0.89 Rp 15.4K
95.51%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$1.51 Rp 26.2K
110.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$7.40 Rp 128.3K
81.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$2.66 Rp 46.0K
200.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$7.50 Rp 130.0K
114.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.17 Rp 37.6K
5.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.24 Rp 21.5K
38.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.33 Rp 23.0K
45.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$0.99 Rp 17.1K
156.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.11 Rp 19.3K
64.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.44 Rp 25.0K
41.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$0.87 Rp 15.2K
127.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.36 Rp 6,304
136.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$2.44 Rp 42.3K
180.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$17.12 Rp 296.8K
-66.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.65 Rp 28.7K
-16.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$2.31 Rp 40.0K
25.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$0.32 Rp 5,612
612.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$9.77 Rp 169.3K
379.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$0.48 Rp 8,295
750.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.29 Rp 4,962
182.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$2.51 Rp 43.4K
627.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$0.83 Rp 14.4K
142.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$28.3K Rp 491.2M
24.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$31.9K Rp 552.1M
20.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$51.2 Rp 886.7K
184.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$4.25 Rp 73.7K
393.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$19.25 Rp 333.6K
108.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$15.02 Rp 260.3K
224.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$3.97 Rp 68.8K
370.78%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$2.80 Rp 48.5K
223.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$48.68 Rp 843.7K
1145.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$4,385 Rp 76.0M
272.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$21.69 Rp 376.0K
382.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$21.92 Rp 379.9K
86.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$63.3 Rp 1.1M
47.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$57.6 Rp 998.5K
105.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$254 Rp 4.4M
531.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$157 Rp 2.7M
686.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$595 Rp 10.3M
412.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$339 Rp 5.9M
506.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$1,216 Rp 21.1M
534.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$777 Rp 13.5M
449.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Magelang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$185 Rp 3.2M
755.66%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Magelang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $254 in Magelang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 756% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $9.00 in Magelang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 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 294% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $565 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 756% 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $254 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $48.68 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 49% 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 $565 in Magelang versus $2,227 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 294% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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