😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $671 in Pekanbaru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $972 in Pekanbaru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,273 in Pekanbaru.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 229% more expensive than Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Pekanbaru is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$1.58Rp 28.1K
906.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$9.16Rp 163.6K
607.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$2.43Rp 43.3K
332.51%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.35Rp 24.2K
112.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.50Rp 8,881
348.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.24Rp 4,259
525.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.21Rp 39.5K
57.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.31Rp 59.1K
17.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.36Rp 24.2K
-16.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.20Rp 21.4K
45.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.98Rp 17.5K
79.59%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.71Rp 30.5K
88.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$17.17Rp 306.6K
-21.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$2.62Rp 46.8K
201.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$10.17Rp 181.5K
56.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.88Rp 51.4K
-19.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.68Rp 30.1K
1.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.00Rp 35.8K
0.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.96Rp 17.2K
156.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.01Rp 18.1K
82.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.67Rp 29.8K
19.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.50Rp 26.8K
28.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.45Rp 8,024
75.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.25Rp 40.2K
193.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$21.07Rp 376.3K
-72.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.80Rp 50.0K
-51.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$4.08Rp 72.8K
-27.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.29Rp 5,261
717.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$9.04Rp 161.5K
403.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.88Rp 15.7K
387.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.44Rp 7,814
86.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$2.14Rp 38.2K
755.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.77Rp 13.7K
167.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$22.7KRp 405.1M
51.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$25.7KRp 459.7M
52.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$69.3Rp 1.2M
113.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$6.73Rp 120.2K
204.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$28.30Rp 505.4K
39.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$23.12Rp 412.8K
106.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$12.25Rp 218.7K
54.45%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$3.29Rp 58.7K
179.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$175Rp 3.1M
250.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$3,092Rp 55.2M
419.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$34.33Rp 613.1K
204.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$36.18Rp 646.2K
16.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$65.1Rp 1.2M
44.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$76.5Rp 1.4M
56.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$258Rp 4.6M
531.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$120Rp 2.2M
942.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$908Rp 16.2M
233.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$154Rp 2.7M
1212.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$1,026Rp 18.3M
660.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$722Rp 12.9M
491.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$190Rp 3.4M
743.13%
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 Pekanbaru: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $258 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 743% 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 $9.00 in Pekanbaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $251 per month, with Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Pekanbaru?
Lisbon and Pekanbaru differ by about 229% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $671 including rent). Pekanbaru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Pekanbaru?
Lisbon pays 743% 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 Pekanbaru?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $258 in Pekanbaru. 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 Pekanbaru?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $175 in Pekanbaru. 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 7% 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 $671 in Pekanbaru versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pekanbaru but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Pekanbaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Pekanbaru?
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 Pekanbaru safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru?
Expats usually find Pekanbaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 229% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.