😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $644 in Makassar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $980 in Makassar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,317 in Makassar.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 257% more expensive than in Makassar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Makassar is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$1.65Rp 29.3K
966.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$9.03Rp 159.8K
596.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$3.21Rp 56.9K
260.75%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.99Rp 35.3K
55.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.50Rp 8,874
398.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.34Rp 6,003
411.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.59Rp 45.8K
34.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$3.27Rp 58.0K
5.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.62Rp 28.6K
-29.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.00Rp 17.7K
91.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$0.61Rp 10.8K
145.90%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.50Rp 26.6K
165.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$6.60Rp 116.8K
101.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$3.51Rp 62.1K
128.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$5.28Rp 93.6K
241.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.39Rp 42.3K
-1.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.39Rp 24.7K
25.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.94Rp 34.4K
-4.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.79Rp 31.6K
42.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.14Rp 20.2K
61.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.60Rp 28.3K
31.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.80Rp 14.2K
86.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.40Rp 7,020
105.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$2.69Rp 47.6K
163.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$22.97Rp 406.7K
-74.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.84Rp 32.6K
-28.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.30Rp 40.7K
-7.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.27Rp 4,734
774.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$4.35Rp 77.0K
971.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.51Rp 9,032
700.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.36Rp 6,314
216.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$2.89Rp 51.2K
491.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.79Rp 14.0K
192.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$15.7KRp 277.8M
117.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$16.9KRp 299.4M
144.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$90.0Rp 1.6M
87.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$2.61Rp 46.2K
640.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$25.25Rp 447.2K
32.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$21.32Rp 377.5K
129.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$23.06Rp 408.3K
-15.74%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$3.50Rp 62.0K
173.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$94.9Rp 1.7M
633.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$3,893Rp 68.9M
345.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$27.74Rp 491.2K
279.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$24.02Rp 425.4K
98.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$74.9Rp 1.3M
34.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$40.90Rp 724.2K
204.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$195Rp 3.4M
753.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$152Rp 2.7M
721.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$403Rp 7.1M
635.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$313Rp 5.5M
553.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$1,438Rp 25.5M
444.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$572Rp 10.1M
680.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$218Rp 3.9M
648.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6
-37.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Makassar: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $195 in Makassar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 648% 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 Makassar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $199 per month, with Makassar 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 Makassar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Makassar?
Lisbon and Makassar differ by about 257% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $644 including rent). Makassar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Makassar?
Average pay runs 648% 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 Makassar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $195 in Makassar. 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 Makassar?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $94.9 in Makassar. 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 39% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $644 in Makassar versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makassar but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Makassar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Makassar?
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 Makassar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Makassar 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 Makassar?
Expats usually find Makassar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 257% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.