Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mandaue Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mandaue

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $934 in Mandaue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,374 in Mandaue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,814 in Mandaue.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 137% more expensive than Mandaue, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Mandaue is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$4.52 ₱279
251.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$24.25 ₱1,495
167.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$4.33 ₱267
142.73%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.64 ₱163
8.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.81 ₱49.70
176.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.45 ₱27.81
233.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$1.57 ₱96.6
122.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.08 ₱128
86.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.08 ₱128
-45.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.75 ₱46.14
133.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.97 ₱59.9
81.44%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.23 ₱138
44.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$12.75 ₱786
5.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$5.17 ₱319
53.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$7.52 ₱464
111.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.58 ₱221
-35.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.50 ₱92.7
13.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.26 ₱201
-38.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.26 ₱139
8.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.56 ₱158
-28.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.53 ₱156
-20.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.98 ₱60.3
96.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.79 ₱48.69
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$2.68 ₱165
146.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$6.34 ₱391
-9.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.15 ₱70.9
19.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.34 ₱144
26.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.26 ₱16.01
811.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.84 ₱51.7
410.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.25 ₱15.51
228.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$2.64 ₱163
593.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.09 ₱67.2
88.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$29.6K ₱1.8M
15.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$27.5K ₱1.7M
42.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$95.5 ₱5,886
54.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$26.50 ₱1,634
-22.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$29.84 ₱1,840
32.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$47.94 ₱2,956
-0.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$4.47 ₱276
323.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$5.91 ₱364
55.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$230 ₱14.2K
166.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$3,847 ₱237.2K
317.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$46.31 ₱2,856
126.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$22.90 ₱1,412
83.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$77.2 ₱4,759
21.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$55.8 ₱3,438
114.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$266 ₱16.4K
511.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$284 ₱17.5K
341.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$854 ₱52.7K
254.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$436 ₱26.9K
363.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$2,353 ₱145.1K
231.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$958 ₱59.1K
345.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$242 ₱14.9K
563.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8
-52.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $266 in Mandaue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 563% 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 $24.00 in Mandaue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $228 per month, with Mandaue 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 Mandaue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Mandaue?
Lisbon and Mandaue differ by about 137% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $934 including rent). Mandaue is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Mandaue?
Lisbon pays 563% 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 Mandaue?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $266 in Mandaue. 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 18% 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 Mandaue?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $934 in Mandaue – a 137% 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 $934 in Mandaue versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mandaue but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mandaue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mandaue?
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 Mandaue safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mandaue 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 Mandaue?
Expats usually find Mandaue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 137% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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