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: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $905 in Mandaue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,369 in Mandaue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,833 in Mandaue.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 153% more expensive than in Mandaue, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mandaue is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.17
$4.40 ₱271
267.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.4
$23.85 ₱1,468
165.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.03
$4.37 ₱269
136.16%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.55 ₱157
10.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$0.78 ₱48.26
193.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.43 ₱26.31
267.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$1.52 ₱93.8
123.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$2.15 ₱132
87.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$2.12 ₱130
-48.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$0.80 ₱49.37
118.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.98 ₱60.5
79.59%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.26 ₱139
40.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.54
$12.94 ₱797
1.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.97
$5.18 ₱319
53.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.59
$7.77 ₱478
99.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$3.57 ₱220
-33.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.53 ₱94.3
11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$3.39 ₱209
-40.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$2.26 ₱139
7.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.55 ₱157
-30.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.47 ₱152
-17.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.94 ₱57.7
104.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.79 ₱48.55
7.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$2.62 ₱161
151.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.88
$6.24 ₱384
-10.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.17 ₱71.8
13.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$2.36 ₱145
25.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.26 ₱15.98
776.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.06
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$0.87 ₱53.4
386.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.25 ₱15.48
224.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.13
$2.63 ₱162
601.14%
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
$30.1K ₱1.9M
15.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$27.4K ₱1.7M
43.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$96.6 ₱5,944
53.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.90
$26.07 ₱1,605
-21.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.61
$30.13 ₱1,855
31.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.99
$48.75 ₱3,001
-1.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.27
$4.36 ₱268
326.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.07
$6.11 ₱376
50.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €539
$228 ₱14.1K
169.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$3,860 ₱237.6K
325.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.9
$44.98 ₱2,769
128.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.52
$23.33 ₱1,437
78.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.9
$75.8 ₱4,667
25.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$55.5 ₱3,416
119.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,428
$263 ₱16.2K
520.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,078
$287 ₱17.7K
329.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,711
$837 ₱51.6K
269.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,777
$442 ₱27.2K
359.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,851
$2,718 ₱167.3K
188.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,840
$837 ₱51.5K
424.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mandaue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,406
$246 ₱15.1K
553.74%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $263 in Mandaue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 554% 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 $24.00 in Mandaue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $231 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 in Mandaue?
Lisbon and Mandaue differ by about 153% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $905 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?
Average pay runs 554% 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 Mandaue?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $263 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 16% 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 $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $905 in Mandaue – a 153% 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 $905 in Mandaue versus $2,291 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 153% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities