😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $634 in Pekanbaru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $989 in Pekanbaru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,343 in Pekanbaru.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 262% more expensive than in Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Pekanbaru is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$1.45Rp 25.7K
1113.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$8.36Rp 148.0K
651.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$2.26Rp 40.0K
412.39%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.31Rp 23.1K
136.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.42Rp 7,464
492.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.22Rp 3,887
690.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$1.92Rp 34.0K
81.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$3.09Rp 54.8K
11.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.38Rp 24.4K
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.14Rp 20.3K
67.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$0.89Rp 15.7K
68.54%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.68Rp 29.8K
136.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$7.37Rp 130.5K
80.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$2.54Rp 45.1K
215.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$6.72Rp 119.1K
168.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.75Rp 48.7K
-14.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.66Rp 29.5K
5.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.44Rp 43.2K
-24.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.25Rp 22.1K
104.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.33Rp 23.5K
38.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$2.01Rp 35.7K
4.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.73Rp 12.9K
104.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.39Rp 6,991
110.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$2.11Rp 37.3K
236.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$20.66Rp 365.8K
-71.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-31.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.92Rp 51.7K
-27.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.27Rp 4,778
774.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$8.44Rp 149.4K
452.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$0.93Rp 16.5K
338.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.37Rp 6,527
208.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$2.97Rp 52.5K
475.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.72Rp 12.7K
220.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$22.8KRp 403.0M
49.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$27.4KRp 485.0M
51.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$65.2Rp 1.2M
158.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$6.29Rp 111.4K
207.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$23.94Rp 423.9K
39.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$28.75Rp 509.1K
69.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$8.36Rp 148.1K
132.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$3.05Rp 54.0K
213.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$96.6Rp 1.7M
620.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$7,970Rp 141.1M
117.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$27.32Rp 483.8K
285.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$29.79Rp 527.4K
60.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$56.5Rp 999.9K
78.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$82.0Rp 1.5M
51.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$208Rp 3.7M
698.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$157Rp 2.8M
692.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$556Rp 9.8M
433.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$374Rp 6.6M
448.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$1,357Rp 24.0M
477.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$659Rp 11.7M
577.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pekanbaru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$179Rp 3.2M
813.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
9.46
-60.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Pekanbaru: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $208 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 813% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $8.00 in Pekanbaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $203 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 in Pekanbaru?
Lisbon and Pekanbaru differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $634 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?
Average pay runs 813% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Pekanbaru?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $208 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $96.6 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 37% 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 $634 in Pekanbaru versus $2,296 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 262% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.