😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $534 in Ongata Rongai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $841 in Ongata Rongai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $1,148 in Ongata Rongai.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 315% more expensive than in Ongata Rongai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Ongata Rongai is 60% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.77
$5.49KES 711
187.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€54.5
$19.37KES 2,509
222.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.19
$6.78KES 878
55.46%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.41
$1.87KES 243
48.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.99
$0.30KES 38.36
660.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.35
$0.40KES 52.2
287.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.09
$2.29KES 296
55.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.47
$2.98KES 385
33.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$0.49KES 64.0
120.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.54
$0.46KES 59.6
284.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$1.33KES 173
33.08%
Eggs
$3.12€2.72
$1.32KES 171
136.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.64
$4.35KES 563
206.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.98
$3.51KES 455
127.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.89
$3.56KES 462
347.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$1.21KES 157
88.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.43
$1.03KES 134
59.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.14KES 147
73.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$0.65KES 84.0
276.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$0.75KES 97.6
136.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.72
$0.44KES 57.3
347.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$0.66KES 84.9
198.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.70
$0.47KES 61.5
70.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.70
$2.28KES 295
186.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€5.01
$9.08KES 1,176
-36.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.15
$2.18KES 282
-39.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.60
$2.83KES 367
5.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€40.01
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.71
$1.53KES 198
178.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.74
$1.37KES 177
-38.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.45
$2.96KES 383
537.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.81
$1.58KES 204
31.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.8K
$22.0KKES 2.9M
60.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.7K
$20.2KKES 2.6M
91.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€132
$35.05KES 4,541
331.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.24
$16.85KES 2,182
24.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.50
$39.84KES 5,161
-0.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€42.22
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.24
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.89
$6.32KES 818
43.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€532
$200KES 25.9K
204.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$7,945KES 1.0M
104.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€88.3
$18.57KES 2,406
445.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€35.41
$23.57KES 3,054
72.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€81.2
$65.5KES 8,491
41.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$56.2KES 7,278
111.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,398
$156KES 20.2K
928.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,081
$118KES 15.3K
946.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,634
$234KES 30.3K
1189.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,798
$229KES 29.7K
798.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,963
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,955
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ongata Rongai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
14.84
-74.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ongata Rongai: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $156 in Ongata Rongai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $19.00 in Ongata Rongai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 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 315% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $534 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 $3,325 in Lisbon and $801 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: $1,603 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 110% 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 $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $534 in Ongata Rongai – a 315% 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 $534 in Ongata Rongai versus $2,217 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 315% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.