😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $661 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,020 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,379 in Pontianak.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 239% more expensive than Pontianak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Pontianak is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$1.45Rp 25.0K
984.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$12.20Rp 209.7K
417.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$3.32Rp 57.0K
210.84%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$1.67Rp 28.7K
68.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$0.51Rp 8,849
356.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.28Rp 4,836
439.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$3.12Rp 53.6K
8.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$2.40Rp 41.2K
62.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.18Rp 20.2K
-8.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$1.18Rp 20.3K
48.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$0.93Rp 15.9K
88.17%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$1.60Rp 27.6K
93.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$7.88Rp 135.5K
68.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$3.13Rp 53.8K
150.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$7.98Rp 137.2K
101.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$2.42Rp 41.5K
-1.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.43Rp 24.5K
20.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.87Rp 32.1K
5.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.51Rp 25.9K
68.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$1.33Rp 22.9K
34.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.94Rp 33.3K
1.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$0.94Rp 16.2K
108.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.45Rp 7,656
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$1.80Rp 30.9K
278.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$22.63Rp 388.8K
-74.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$2.03Rp 34.9K
-32.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$3.24Rp 55.7K
-9.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.30Rp 5,080
663.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$9.80Rp 168.4K
378.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$0.53Rp 9,027
677.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$0.37Rp 6,379
118.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$2.88Rp 49.5K
557.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$0.84Rp 14.4K
148.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$24.3KRp 417.5M
44.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$27.8KRp 477.2M
43.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$70.1Rp 1.2M
113.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$4.32Rp 74.3K
374.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$22.55Rp 387.6K
73.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$22.69Rp 390.0K
118.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$6.02Rp 103.4K
206.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$3.01Rp 51.7K
205.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$92.2Rp 1.6M
577.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$7,613Rp 130.8M
108.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$42.22Rp 725.6K
141.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$31.31Rp 538.0K
30.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$67.9Rp 1.2M
40.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$73.8Rp 1.3M
64.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$255Rp 4.4M
549.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$160Rp 2.7M
672.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$581Rp 10.0M
423.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$333Rp 5.7M
517.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,374Rp 23.6M
473.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$749Rp 12.9M
474.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$345Rp 5.9M
353.59%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $255 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 354% 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 in Lisbon vs $12 in Pontianak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $212 per month, with Pontianak 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 Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Pontianak?
Lisbon and Pontianak differ by about 239% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $661 including rent). Pontianak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Pontianak?
Lisbon pays 354% 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 Pontianak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $255 in Pontianak. 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 Pontianak?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $92.2 in Pontianak. 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 27% 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 $661 in Pontianak versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pontianak but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Pontianak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Pontianak?
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 Pontianak safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Pontianak 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 Pontianak?
Expats usually find Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 239% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.