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: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $145 in Mwanza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $220 in Mwanza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $294 in Mwanza.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 1475% more expensive than in Mwanza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Mwanza is 89% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.18

$2.55 TZS 6,685

534.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.5

$15.29 TZS 40.1K

314.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.04

$4.72 TZS 12.4K

118.64%

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.48

$2.77 TZS 7,259

2.17%

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

$2.29 €2.01

$0.28 TZS 724

717.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

$0.28 TZS 735

464.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.98

$1.00 TZS 2,625

240.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.53

$1.37 TZS 3,584

194.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.96

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.56

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.60

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.76

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.13

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.76

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.89

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.15

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

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

$34.7K €30.4K

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

$39.2K €34.3K

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

$148 €130

$68.2 TZS 179.0K

117.05%

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

$20.46 €17.92

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.64

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €42.03

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.29

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.08

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

$616 €540

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.55

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €83.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,430

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,079

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,713

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,779

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,858

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,844

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,408

$187 TZS 491.6K

757.95%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mwanza: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 758% 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 at a mid-range restaurant: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $15.00 in Mwanza for two.

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 1475% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $145 including rent). Mwanza is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 758% 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 $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $145 in Mwanza – a 1475% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $145 in Mwanza versus $2,291 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 1475% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.