😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $671 in Marikina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,068 in Marikina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,464 in Marikina.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 240% more expensive than in Marikina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Marikina is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$3.56₱218
342.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$28.33₱1,734
124.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$3.48₱213
200.29%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$2.62₱160
11.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.74₱45.37
209.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.43₱26.58
248.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$1.05₱64.1
239.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.72₱166
45.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$2.05₱126
-47.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.51₱92.6
16.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.06₱64.8
60.38%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.28₱139
42.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$7.97₱488
66.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$4.41₱270
74.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$7.74₱474
103.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.63₱161
-13.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.94₱119
-14.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$2.63₱161
-23.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$2.16₱132
14.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$3.31₱203
-45.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$2.95₱181
-29.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$1.14₱69.7
72.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.72₱44.15
15.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.70₱165
142.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$9.02₱552
-38.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.25₱76.5
6.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.12₱130
41.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.46₱28.28
393.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$0.77₱47.09
449.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.12₱7.59
608.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$3.52₱216
434.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.09₱66.7
85.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$33.5K₱2.1M
4.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$17.6K₱1.1M
125.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$109₱6,665
35.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$13.78₱843
48.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$26.46₱1,620
49.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$42.28₱2,588
13.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$6.04₱370
50.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$328₱20.1K
87.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$1,142₱69.9K
1325.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$45.36₱2,777
123.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$25.75₱1,576
63.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$57.4₱3,511
60.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$26.66₱1,632
357.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$177₱10.9K
808.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$86.9₱5,319
1342.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$288₱17.6K
966.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$170₱10.4K
1096.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,162₱71.1K
566.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$495₱30.3K
766.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Marikina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$393₱24.0K
308.07%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Marikina: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $177 in Marikina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 308% 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 $28.00 in Marikina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $222 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 in Marikina?
Lisbon and Marikina differ by about 240% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $671 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?
Average pay runs 308% 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 Marikina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $177 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 20% 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 $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $671 in Marikina – a 240% 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 $671 in Marikina versus $2,280 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 240% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.