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