Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Maharagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Maharagama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $132 in Maharagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $246 in Maharagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $360 in Maharagama.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1643% more expensive than in Maharagama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Maharagama is 90% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.59 €15.31

$5.20 LKR 1,719

238.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.9 €54.7

$20.09 LKR 6,642

212.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.58 €10.08

$7.02 LKR 2,321

64.96%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.70

$2.13 LKR 705

45.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 €2.17

$0.61 LKR 201

308.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 €1.52

$0.29 LKR 94.3

500.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 €1.00

$0.90 LKR 297

27.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.91 €1.66

$0.25 LKR 82.7

664.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 €1.31

$0.51 LKR 168

194.12%

Eggs

$3.98 €3.47

$1.44 LKR 476

176.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.57

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.97

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.70

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.61

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.60

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.18

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.57

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.55

$0.45 LKR 148

806.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.99

$0.48 LKR 159

137.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K €29.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K €36.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$169 €147

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.33 €16.83

$4.69 LKR 1,549

312.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.51 €29.17

$13.87 LKR 4,587

141.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.51

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.92

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.33

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$696 €606

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.56

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,446

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,085

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 €2,580

$200 LKR 66.1K

1383.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,783

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,819

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,886

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,632 €1,420

$248 LKR 81.9K

559.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 559% 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 $20.00 in Maharagama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $19.00 per month, with Maharagama 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 Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Maharagama differ by about 1643% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $132 including rent). Maharagama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 559% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Maharagama – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $132 in Maharagama – a 1643% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $132 in Maharagama versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maharagama but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Maharagama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Maharagama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Maharagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1643% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.