Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Otsu Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Otsu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,223 in Otsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,920 in Otsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,617 in Otsu.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 87% more expensive than in Otsu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Otsu is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$8.50 ¥1,382
90.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$34.39 ¥5,587
84.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$5.47 ¥888
88.67%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$3.01 ¥490
-5.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$0.91 ¥149
151.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.72 ¥117
119.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$3.45 ¥560
-1.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$3.20 ¥520
25.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.69 ¥275
-35.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.71 ¥278
2.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.10 ¥503
-43.23%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.34 ¥379
35.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$9.56 ¥1,554
37.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$7.71 ¥1,253
3.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$15.61 ¥2,537
-0.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$5.46 ¥887
-56.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.60 ¥422
-34.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$4.83 ¥785
-58.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$3.94 ¥641
-38.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.60 ¥260
10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.37 ¥385
-14.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.31 ¥212
46.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.01 ¥164
-15.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$4.06 ¥660
62.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$9.06 ¥1,472
-38.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.80 ¥292
-26.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$2.40 ¥390
23.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$1.59 ¥258
43.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$54.9 ¥8,916
-16.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$3.44 ¥559
22.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$2.93 ¥475
-72.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$17.07 ¥2,773
8.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.19 ¥194
74.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$22.8K ¥3.7M
51.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$17.1K ¥2.8M
129.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$110 ¥17.9K
34.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$26.63 ¥4,326
-23.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$33.78 ¥5,488
17.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$54.9 ¥8,916
-12.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$13.64 ¥2,216
36.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$12.54 ¥2,037
-26.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$374 ¥60.7K
64.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$7,474 ¥1.2M
119.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$45.41 ¥7,378
126.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$31.67 ¥5,146
31.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$56.1 ¥9,119
68.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$92.5 ¥15.0K
31.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$468 ¥76.1K
248.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$323 ¥52.5K
281.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$856 ¥139.1K
261.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$669 ¥108.8K
203.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$4,318 ¥701.6K
81.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$2,079 ¥337.7K
111.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$1,769 ¥287.5K
-9.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
1.78
114.04%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Otsu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $468 in Otsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Otsu pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Otsu. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $311, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

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 Otsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Otsu?
Lisbon and Otsu differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,223 including rent). Otsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Otsu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Otsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $468 in Otsu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Otsu?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $374 in Otsu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,223 in Otsu versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Otsu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Otsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Otsu?
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 Otsu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Otsu 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 Otsu?
Expats usually find Otsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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