Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mata Utu Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mata Utu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $5,531 in Mata Utu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $6,896 in Mata Utu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $8,261 in Mata Utu.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 59% less than in Mata Utu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 64% above, Mata Utu 301% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.55 €15.12

$11.51 CFPF 1,179

52.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.5 €55.6

$116 CFPF 11.9K

-44.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 €10.04

Cappuccino

$3.26 €2.81

$7.98 CFPF 818

-59.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 €2.15

$5.75 CFPF 589

-56.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 €1.44

$3.58 CFPF 367

-53.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 €2.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 €3.08

$5.86 CFPF 601

-38.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 €1.02

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 €1.68

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 €1.35

Eggs

$4.01 €3.46

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.27 €11.44

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.42 €7.26

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.23 €15.72

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 €2.00

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 €1.49

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 €1.67

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 €2.27

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 €1.64

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 €1.82

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

$11.64 CFPF 1,193

-87.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 €0.69

$4.55 CFPF 466

-82.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.01 €6.04

$17.70 CFPF 1,813

-60.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 €5.11

$17.37 CFPF 1,780

-65.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 €1.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 €2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.22 €39.85

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 €3.61

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 €0.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.26 €14.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.25 €1.94

$1.91 CFPF 196

17.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.5K €29.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.6K €35.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$171 €147

$151 CFPF 15.5K

12.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.01 €16.38

$118 CFPF 12.1K

-83.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.28 €29.55

$3,529 CFPF 361.5K

-99.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.65 €42.80

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.51 €16.81

Cinema Ticket

$10.10 €8.71

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$699 €603

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.8K €15.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.2

$229 CFPF 23.4K

-54.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.97 €41.35

$93.5 CFPF 9,583

-48.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 €87.8

$235 CFPF 24.0K

-56.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 €111

$288 CFPF 29.5K

-55.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,661 €1,432

$925 CFPF 94.8K

79.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,228 €1,059

$934 CFPF 95.7K

31.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,915 €2,513

$2,306 CFPF 236.2K

26.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,023 €1,744

$2,304 CFPF 236.1K

-12.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,129 €7,007

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,635 €3,996

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,619 €1,396

$3,528 CFPF 361.5K

-54.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $925 in Mata Utu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mata Utu pays 118% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $116 in Mata Utu. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $136, with Mata Utu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Mata Utu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Mata Utu differ by about 144% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $5,531 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 118% lower in Mata Utu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $925 in Mata Utu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $116 in Mata Utu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $5,531 in Mata Utu – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mata Utu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% less than in Mata Utu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.