Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mambajao Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mambajao

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $632 in Mambajao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,001 in Mambajao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,370 in Mambajao.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 250% more expensive than Mambajao, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Mambajao is 53% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$1.55 ₱95.6
926.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$26.49 ₱1,634
144.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$4.41 ₱272
138.32%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.04 ₱187
-5.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$1.41 ₱86.9
58.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.77 ₱47.77
94.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$1.12 ₱69.2
211.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.72 ₱168
42.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.33 ₱82.0
-14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.91 ₱55.9
92.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.88 ₱54.1
100.00%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.41 ₱87.0
128.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$7.94 ₱490
69.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.21 ₱260
87.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$6.56 ₱405
141.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.98 ₱184
-22.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.35 ₱83.0
25.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.71 ₱167
-25.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.59 ₱98.3
54.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.39 ₱147
-23.01%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.60 ₱161
-23.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.12 ₱68.9
72.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.72 ₱44.64
9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$2.91 ₱180
127.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$8.16 ₱503
-29.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.07 ₱66.2
28.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.30 ₱80.3
128.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.20 ₱12.31
1085.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.82 ₱50.4
423.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.22 ₱13.52
272.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$2.17 ₱134
743.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.41 ₱86.8
46.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$27.1K ₱1.7M
26.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$20.2K ₱1.2M
94.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$84.0 ₱5,181
75.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$32.13 ₱1,981
-36.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$22.09 ₱1,362
79.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$33.64 ₱2,074
42.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$4.49 ₱277
321.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$5.87 ₱362
56.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$150 ₱9,227
310.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$4,285 ₱264.2K
274.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$45.28 ₱2,792
131.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$26.22 ₱1,617
60.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$75.4 ₱4,648
24.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$53.3 ₱3,284
124.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$132 ₱8,138
1133.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$87.0 ₱5,363
1343.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$293 ₱18.1K
932.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$191 ₱11.8K
957.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,460 ₱151.7K
217.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$885 ₱54.6K
382.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mambajao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$154 ₱9,498
940.94%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mambajao: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $132 in Mambajao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 941% 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 $26.00 in Mambajao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $188 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 Mambajao?
Lisbon and Mambajao differ by about 250% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $632 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?
Lisbon pays 941% 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 Mambajao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 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 44% 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 $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $632 in Mambajao – a 250% 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 $632 in Mambajao versus $2,210 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 250% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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