😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $784 in Malaybalay.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,216 in Malaybalay.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,649 in Malaybalay.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 192% more expensive than in Malaybalay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Malaybalay is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$4.37₱269
270.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$15.75₱970
302.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$3.95₱243
161.27%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.14₱132
32.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.50₱31.04
358.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.37₱22.57
327.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.09₱66.9
211.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$1.76₱108
128.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.70₱104
-35.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.22₱75.1
43.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.93₱57.6
89.25%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.00₱123
58.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$6.05₱372
118.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$4.56₱281
74.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$7.47₱460
107.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.83₱174
-16.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.19₱73.4
43.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.28₱140
-11.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.42₱87.5
71.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.18₱134
-19.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$3.17₱195
-35.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.38₱84.8
39.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.60₱36.82
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.67₱164
146.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$8.14₱501
-31.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.36₱83.9
-2.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.55₱95.4
91.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.28₱17.37
714.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.85₱52.6
397.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.23₱14.10
252.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$2.18₱134
745.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.09₱67.2
90.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$21.9K₱1.3M
58.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$20.9K₱1.3M
87.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$105₱6,459
41.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$33.33₱2,052
-38.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$35.84₱2,207
10.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$34.25₱2,109
40.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$4.36₱269
326.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$4.52₱278
103.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$118₱7,251
423.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$4,376₱269.4K
275.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$45.25₱2,786
126.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$30.63₱1,886
36.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$76.2₱4,691
24.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$68.0₱4,185
79.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$271₱16.7K
503.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$180₱11.1K
584.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$587₱36.1K
428.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$389₱23.9K
422.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$2,377₱146.3K
229.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$1,109₱68.3K
295.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Malaybalay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.56
-60.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Malaybalay: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $271 in Malaybalay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $16.00 in Malaybalay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $194 per month, with Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Malaybalay?
Lisbon and Malaybalay differ by about 192% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $784 including rent). Malaybalay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Malaybalay?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,176 in Malaybalay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Malaybalay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $271 in Malaybalay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Malaybalay?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $784 in Malaybalay – a 192% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $784 in Malaybalay versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malaybalay but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Malaybalay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Malaybalay?
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 Malaybalay safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Malaybalay 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 Malaybalay?
Expats usually find Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 192% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.