Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Palembang Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Palembang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $657 in Palembang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,031 in Palembang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,404 in Palembang.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 236% more expensive than Palembang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Palembang is 51% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
1225.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$17.59 Rp 315.3K
268.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$3.14 Rp 56.2K
234.71%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
105.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.97 Rp 17.4K
130.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.28 Rp 5,023
435.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$1.83 Rp 32.8K
90.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$3.59 Rp 64.4K
8.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.31 Rp 23.4K
-12.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
50.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.41 Rp 25.2K
24.82%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.20 Rp 21.6K
168.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$7.99 Rp 143.2K
68.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$3.13 Rp 56.1K
152.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$8.70 Rp 155.9K
82.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.39 Rp 42.9K
-3.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
18.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.89 Rp 34.0K
6.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
65.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.93 Rp 34.6K
3.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.97 Rp 17.4K
98.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.50 Rp 9,007
58.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
170.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$21.68 Rp 388.7K
-73.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.02 Rp 36.2K
-32.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$3.16 Rp 56.7K
-6.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.47 Rp 8,498
404.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$9.74 Rp 174.5K
367.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.52 Rp 9,398
725.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.37 Rp 6,710
121.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$2.96 Rp 53.0K
518.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
174.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$24.3K Rp 434.9M
41.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$28.1K Rp 504.4M
39.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$69.8 Rp 1.3M
111.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$4.23 Rp 75.9K
385.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$23.64 Rp 423.7K
67.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$23.44 Rp 420.2K
104.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$6.00 Rp 107.5K
215.33%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$3.04 Rp 54.5K
201.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$92.3 Rp 1.7M
565.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$7,546 Rp 135.3M
112.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$42.12 Rp 755.0K
148.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$31.14 Rp 558.2K
35.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$67.4 Rp 1.2M
39.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
62.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$257 Rp 4.6M
532.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$157 Rp 2.8M
699.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$584 Rp 10.5M
419.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$331 Rp 5.9M
510.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$1,346 Rp 24.1M
479.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$783 Rp 14.0M
445.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Palembang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$309 Rp 5.5M
418.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
9.15
-58.36%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $257 in Palembang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 419% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $18.00 in Palembang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $214 per month, with Palembang 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 Palembang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Palembang?
Lisbon and Palembang differ by about 236% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $657 including rent). Palembang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Palembang?
Lisbon pays 419% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Palembang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $257 in Palembang. 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 Palembang?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $92.3 in Palembang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $657 in Palembang versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Palembang?
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 Palembang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Palembang 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 Palembang?
Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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