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: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,317 in Otsu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,920 in Otsu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,523 in Otsu.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 74% more expensive than in Otsu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Otsu is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.32
$8.79 ¥1,373
100.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$32.79 ¥5,121
91.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.09
$5.05 ¥789
129.31%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$3.20 ¥500
-3.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$1.26 ¥197
97.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$0.83 ¥130
109.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$3.29 ¥514
5.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$4.42 ¥690
-22.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.56 ¥244
-26.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.60 ¥250
19.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$4.63 ¥723
-67.60%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$2.29 ¥357
73.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.58
$16.04 ¥2,504
-17.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$6.58 ¥1,027
21.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.72
$17.75 ¥2,772
1.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$5.33 ¥832
-55.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.52
$2.65 ¥413
-33.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$5.07 ¥791
-63.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$4.49 ¥701
-43.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$2.23 ¥348
-17.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$1.89 ¥295
11.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.29
$1.16 ¥182
28.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.94 ¥147
-12.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.18
$3.97 ¥620
78.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$9.77 ¥1,526
-39.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$2.09 ¥327
-37.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.14 ¥335
-0.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$1.54 ¥241
53.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.61
$59.1 ¥9,222
-21.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$3.16 ¥494
29.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$2.96 ¥462
-61.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.89
$28.60 ¥4,467
-40.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$1.13 ¥176
104.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$22.1K ¥3.4M
54.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.0K
$15.4K ¥2.4M
168.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$117 ¥18.3K
44.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.84
$23.73 ¥3,706
-18.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.20
$31.66 ¥4,945
5.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.55
$52.2 ¥8,153
-6.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.93
$9.81 ¥1,532
98.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$12.51 ¥1,954
-23.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €606
$577 ¥90.1K
20.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$13.0K ¥2.0M
33.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.7
$57.9 ¥9,034
82.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.60
$36.39 ¥5,683
31.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$71.0 ¥11.1K
41.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$100 ¥15.7K
23.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,448
$458 ¥71.5K
263.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$382 ¥59.6K
226.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,583
$654 ¥102.2K
353.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,785
$468 ¥73.1K
337.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,825
$3,775 ¥589.6K
107.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,889
$1,790 ¥279.5K
149.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Otsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,421
$1,846 ¥288.3K
-11.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
2.1
80.00%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Otsu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $458 in Otsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Otsu pays 13% 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 $33.00 in Otsu. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $339, 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 74% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,317 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 13% 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: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $458 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $577 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 22% 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 $1,317 in Otsu versus $2,296 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 74% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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