😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $687 in Marikina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,064 in Marikina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,442 in Marikina.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 224% more expensive than Marikina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Marikina is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$3.50₱216
362.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$28.21₱1,740
128.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$3.45₱213
200.87%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.67₱165
3.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.74₱45.76
204.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.41₱25.13
282.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.04₱63.9
235.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.64₱163
51.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$2.04₱126
-47.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.44₱88.7
20.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.07₱66.1
62.62%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.26₱139
40.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.08₱499
66.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.44₱274
79.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$7.57₱467
112.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.69₱166
-15.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.90₱117
-9.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.59₱160
-25.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$2.19₱135
15.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$3.41₱210
-46.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.92₱180
-30.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.13₱69.5
75.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.73₱45.25
16.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.74₱169
150.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$9.18₱566
-37.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.19₱73.3
15.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.11₱130
37.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.42₱25.86
442.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.78₱48.24
423.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.11₱7.07
645.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$3.63₱224
403.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.10₱67.8
82.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$34.0K₱2.1M
3.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$18.1K₱1.1M
113.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$110₱6,781
32.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$14.00₱863
49.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$27.03₱1,667
48.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$41.16₱2,539
18.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$6.09₱376
48.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$319₱19.7K
90.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$1,166₱71.9K
1300.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$45.19₱2,787
131.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$25.65₱1,582
59.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$57.1₱3,524
63.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$26.86₱1,657
341.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$175₱10.8K
814.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$87.6₱5,404
1310.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$287₱17.7K
962.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$174₱10.8K
1080.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,163₱71.8K
562.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$486₱30.0K
777.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$393₱24.2K
303.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.25
-39.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Marikina: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $175 in Marikina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 303% 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 $28.00 in Marikina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $221 per month, with Marikina 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 Marikina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Marikina?
Lisbon and Marikina differ by about 224% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $687 including rent). Marikina is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Marikina?
Lisbon pays 303% 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 Marikina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $175 in Marikina. 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 22% 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 Marikina?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $687 in Marikina – a 224% 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 $687 in Marikina versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Marikina but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Marikina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Marikina?
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 Marikina safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Marikina 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 Marikina?
Expats usually find Marikina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 224% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.