😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $836 in Mandaluyong.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,310 in Mandaluyong.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,785 in Mandaluyong.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 174% more expensive than in Mandaluyong, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mandaluyong is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$5.33₱329
203.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$18.08₱1,115
250.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$3.39₱209
204.42%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.38₱147
18.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.97₱59.6
136.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.50₱30.60
216.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.50₱92.4
126.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.69₱166
49.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.84₱113
-40.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.41₱86.7
24.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.07₱66.2
64.49%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.21₱136
43.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$9.34₱576
41.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$5.28₱326
50.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$8.42₱520
84.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$3.40₱210
-30.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.86₱115
-8.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.46₱214
-41.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$2.42₱149
0.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.70₱166
-34.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$3.16₱195
-35.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.71₱44.07
170.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.65₱40.38
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.24₱200
103.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$8.67₱535
-35.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.44₱88.7
-7.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.11₱130
40.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.33₱20.54
590.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.85₱52.5
397.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.27₱16.82
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$2.17₱134
749.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.15₱71.1
80.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$26.5K₱1.6M
31.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$20.6K₱1.3M
89.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$138₱8,498
7.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$34.22₱2,111
-40.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$26.61₱1,641
48.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$33.84₱2,087
41.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$4.33₱267
329.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$6.61₱408
39.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$150₱9,264
310.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$4,775₱294.5K
244.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$46.68₱2,879
120.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$34.39₱2,121
21.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$74.6₱4,603
26.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$45.83₱2,826
166.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$541₱33.4K
201.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$174₱10.7K
609.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$593₱36.6K
422.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$387₱23.8K
425.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$2,894₱178.5K
170.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mandaluyong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$603₱37.2K
166.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.5
-15.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mandaluyong: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $541 in Mandaluyong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 166% 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 $18.00 in Mandaluyong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $233 per month, with Mandaluyong 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 Mandaluyong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Mandaluyong?
Lisbon and Mandaluyong differ by about 174% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $836 including rent). Mandaluyong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mandaluyong?
Average pay runs 166% 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 Mandaluyong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $541 in Mandaluyong. 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 15% 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 Mandaluyong?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $836 in Mandaluyong – a 174% 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 $836 in Mandaluyong versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mandaluyong but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mandaluyong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mandaluyong?
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 Mandaluyong safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mandaluyong 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 Mandaluyong?
Expats usually find Mandaluyong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 174% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.