Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mwanza Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Mwanza

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $189 in Mwanza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $293 in Mwanza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $397 in Mwanza.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1122% more expensive than in Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Mwanza is 86% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.89

$2.39 TZS 6,275

623.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.5

$15.23 TZS 40.0K

315.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.81

$4.55 TZS 12.0K

150.33%

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.75

$2.67 TZS 7,007

19.48%

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

$2.45 €2.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

$0.27 TZS 708

551.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.09

$0.98 TZS 2,588

266.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.92

$1.34 TZS 3,530

152.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.06

$0.91 TZS 2,388

36.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

$1.48 TZS 3,889

33.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

$0.96 TZS 2,530

58.33%

Eggs

$4.04 €3.48

$2.13 TZS 5,609

89.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.65

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.71

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

$0.95 TZS 2,500

102.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

$1.29 TZS 3,402

62.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.72

$0.36 TZS 959

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.84

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.22

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

$1.58 TZS 4,154

46.84%

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

$35.3K €30.4K

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

$41.4K €35.7K

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

$170 €147

$67.0 TZS 176.2K

154.22%

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

$19.34 €16.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €28.96

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.40

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.13

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.54

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

$717 €617

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.41

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €89.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,443

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,094

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,569

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,715

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,737

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,010

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,362

$190 TZS 500.4K

731.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 732% 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 $15.00 in Mwanza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $46.00 per month, with Mwanza 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 Mwanza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Mwanza differ by about 1122% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $189 including rent). Mwanza is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 732% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Mwanza – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $189 in Mwanza – a 1122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $189 in Mwanza versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mwanza but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mwanza 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 Mwanza 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 Mwanza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1122% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.