Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Moratuwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Moratuwa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $72.9 in Moratuwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $125 in Moratuwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $177 in Moratuwa.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 2933% more expensive than Moratuwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Moratuwa is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

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

$2.24 €1.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

$1.40 LKR 463

-18.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

$0.49 LKR 161

257.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

$0.92 LKR 306

91.30%

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$2.62 LKR 870

22.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

$13.62 LKR 4,518

-0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

$0.11 LKR 36.05

2054.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

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

$34.3K €29.5K

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

$39.3K €33.8K

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

$148 €127

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

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

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

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Moratuwa: June 1, 2026

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 Moratuwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Moratuwa differ by about 2933% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $72.9 including rent). Moratuwa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $109 in Moratuwa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 265% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $72.9 in Moratuwa – a 2933% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $72.9 in Moratuwa versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Moratuwa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Moratuwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Moratuwa 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 Moratuwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2933% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.