😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $622 in Mambajao.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,019 in Mambajao.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,417 in Mambajao.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 268% more expensive than in Mambajao, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mambajao is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$1.54₱95.1
951.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$27.01₱1,663
134.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$4.38₱270
135.62%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.14₱193
-9.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$1.33₱81.9
72.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.77₱47.46
105.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.14₱70.2
198.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.71₱167
48.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.27₱78.4
-14.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.92₱56.5
90.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.89₱55.0
97.75%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.40₱86.0
126.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$8.20₱505
60.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$4.29₱264
85.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$6.33₱390
145.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.90₱178
-18.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.35₱83.3
26.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.58₱159
-22.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.55₱95.6
56.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.37₱146
-25.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.60₱160
-21.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.08₱66.3
77.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.75₱46.26
13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.77₱171
137.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$8.07₱497
-30.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.12₱68.9
18.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.24₱76.2
139.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.22₱13.56
936.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.76₱46.97
456.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.24₱14.79
237.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$2.10₱129
778.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.41₱86.8
47.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$26.3K₱1.6M
31.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$20.4K₱1.3M
91.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$85.4₱5,257
73.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$32.83₱2,021
-37.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$22.08₱1,359
79.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$33.81₱2,081
41.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$4.51₱278
312.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$5.79₱357
59.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$154₱9,484
299.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$4,293₱264.3K
282.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$45.12₱2,778
127.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$26.21₱1,614
59.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$74.7₱4,601
26.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$53.0₱3,263
130.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$132₱8,112
1138.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$87.0₱5,357
1316.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$290₱17.8K
970.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$193₱11.9K
950.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$2,672₱164.5K
193.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$1,083₱66.6K
305.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$153₱9,436
948.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.67
-42.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mambajao: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $132 in Mambajao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 949% 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 $27.00 in Mambajao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $187 per month, with Mambajao 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 Mambajao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Mambajao?
Lisbon and Mambajao differ by about 268% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $622 including rent). Mambajao is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mambajao?
Average pay runs 949% 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 Mambajao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $132 in Mambajao. 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 43% 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 Mambajao?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $622 in Mambajao – a 268% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $622 in Mambajao versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mambajao but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mambajao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mambajao?
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 Mambajao safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mambajao 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 Mambajao?
Expats usually find Mambajao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 268% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.