Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Manukau

For one person, living is cheaper in Manukau: $1,914 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Lisbon, Portugal
Manukau, New Zealand
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Manukau
🇳🇿 New Zealand
$1,914
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Manukau

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Manukau actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,914 in Manukau.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Manukau $1,914

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $2,853 in Manukau.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Manukau $2,853

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $3,792 in Manukau.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Manukau $3,792

Living in Lisbon is roughly 15% more expensive than in Manukau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, Manukau 41% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.91
$12.06 NZ$21.42
38.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.3
$68.0 NZ$121
-9.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.17
$8.28 NZ$14.71
37.20%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.66
$3.48 NZ$6.19
-14.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.05
$2.04 NZ$3.63
12.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.74 NZ$3.08
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.05
$6.22 NZ$11.05
-45.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.96
$5.62 NZ$9.98
-41.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.44 NZ$2.56
-19.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.71
$1.30 NZ$2.31
46.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.35
$1.90 NZ$3.37
-20.53%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.60
$5.26 NZ$9.34
-23.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.59
$5.52 NZ$9.80
134.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.96
$7.46 NZ$13.24
4.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.91
$11.96 NZ$21.23
48.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.06
$2.57 NZ$4.55
-10.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.55
$2.16 NZ$3.84
-19.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.66
$2.97 NZ$5.27
-37.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.32
$5.72 NZ$10.16
-54.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$2.09 NZ$3.70
-12.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.76
$1.43 NZ$2.55
37.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$2.01 NZ$3.57
-26.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.91 NZ$1.62
-20.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.90
$25.51 NZ$45.30
-74.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.02
$10.51 NZ$18.65
-46.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$2.84 NZ$5.04
-52.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$3.32 NZ$5.90
-35.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.09
$1.85 NZ$3.29
25.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.01
$111 NZ$197
-59.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.45
$2.28 NZ$4.05
68.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$1.94 NZ$3.45
-44.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.74
$32.50 NZ$57.7
-49.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.97
$1.72 NZ$3.06
27.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.6K
$27.3K NZ$48.4K
25.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.7K
$21.8K NZ$38.8K
77.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €144
$58.0 NZ$103
178.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.49
$26.67 NZ$47.35
-30.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.32
$50.8 NZ$90.3
-35.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €39.90
$43.35 NZ$77.0
2.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.10
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.60
$12.35 NZ$21.92
-22.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €598
$687 NZ$1,220
-2.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$19.5K NZ$34.5K
-9.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.4
$62.3 NZ$111
63.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.82
$38.79 NZ$68.9
14.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.2
$92.4 NZ$164
6.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$112 NZ$198
10.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,440
$1,036 NZ$1,840
55.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,066
$940 NZ$1,669
26.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,519
$1,640 NZ$2,912
71.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,803
$1,494 NZ$2,653
34.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,021
$4,976 NZ$8,834
57.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,098
$3,073 NZ$5,457
48.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Manukau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,411
$1,825 NZ$3,239
-13.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
5.9
-34.75%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Manukau: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Manukau
$940 21% $250
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Manukau
$282 3.6% $9.7
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Manukau
$221 9.1% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Manukau
$136 36.2% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Manukau
$137 17.2% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Manukau
$68 6.7% $4.3
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Manukau
$131 107% $67

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $1,036 in Manukau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manukau pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $68 in Manukau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $282 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇳🇿 Manukau
🕒 Local time
21:09 9:09 PM
10:09 10:09 AM
13 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
362,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

NZD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

New Zealand Dollar exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 1.78 NZD (1 NZD = 0.563 USD). 1 EUR = 1.98 NZD (1 NZD = 0.504 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Manukau 19,630 km ≈ 25 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Manukau

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Manukau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Manukau?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,914 in Manukau, so Manukau is about 13% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Lisbon. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Manukau?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $1,036 in Manukau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Manukau?
Childcare runs $668 in Lisbon versus $687 in Manukau. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How far does $3,000 go in Lisbon compared to Manukau?
Either city works on $3,000 a month, though Manukau gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Manukau?
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 Manukau safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Manukau are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?