😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $570 in Ongata Rongai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $864 in Ongata Rongai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,158 in Ongata Rongai.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 303% more expensive than in Ongata Rongai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Ongata Rongai is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.32
$4.54KES 587
287.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$19.19KES 2,483
227.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.09
$6.00KES 777
93.00%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.88KES 243
64.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.32KES 41.82
678.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.41KES 52.7
324.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.26KES 293
53.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$2.67KES 346
28.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$0.53KES 68.9
116.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$0.50KES 64.3
282.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.28KES 166
17.19%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.36KES 176
192.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.58
$4.12KES 533
222.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$3.39KES 439
136.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.72
$3.52KES 456
412.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.27KES 165
85.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.03KES 133
69.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.15KES 149
60.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$0.64KES 83.4
298.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$0.73KES 94.9
152.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.44KES 57.2
377.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$0.69KES 89.4
115.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.44KES 56.7
86.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$2.34KES 302
203.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$9.30KES 1,204
-36.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$2.32KES 300
-43.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.76KES 357
-22.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.61
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.58KES 205
158.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.58KES 205
-27.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.89
$2.86KES 370
497.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.59KES 205
45.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$21.9KKES 2.8M
55.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$20.3KKES 2.6M
103.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$62.1KES 8,038
171.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.84
$15.84KES 2,050
22.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.20
$36.52KES 4,726
-8.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.55
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$7.69KES 995
24.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$247KES 32.0K
181.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$11.6KKES 1.5M
50.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$27.63KES 3,575
281.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.60
$28.32KES 3,664
68.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$70.6KES 9,136
42.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$58.9KES 7,626
111.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,448
$156KES 20.2K
962.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$117KES 15.2K
964.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,583
$231KES 29.8K
1185.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,785
$231KES 29.9K
786.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,825
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,889
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
14.71
-74.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ongata Rongai: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $156 in Ongata Rongai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $19.00 in Ongata Rongai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $128 per month, with Ongata Rongai 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 Ongata Rongai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Ongata Rongai?
Lisbon and Ongata Rongai differ by about 303% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $570 including rent). Ongata Rongai is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Ongata Rongai?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $855 in Ongata Rongai 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Ongata Rongai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $156 in Ongata Rongai. 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 117% 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 Ongata Rongai?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $570 in Ongata Rongai – a 303% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $570 in Ongata Rongai versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ongata Rongai but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ongata Rongai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ongata Rongai?
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 Ongata Rongai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ongata Rongai 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 Ongata Rongai?
Expats usually find Ongata Rongai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 303% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.