😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $662 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,032 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,403 in Pontianak.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 242% more expensive than Pontianak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Pontianak is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.82
$1.48Rp 26.7K
977.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.9
$12.25Rp 220.1K
417.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€9.00
$3.32Rp 59.6K
212.65%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.42
$1.70Rp 30.6K
64.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$0.51Rp 9,225
358.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.36
$0.28Rp 5,084
460.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$3.01Rp 54.0K
13.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.39
$2.48Rp 44.5K
57.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.17Rp 21.0K
-7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.53
$1.13Rp 20.4K
56.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$0.88Rp 15.8K
94.32%
Eggs
$3.15€2.73
$1.54Rp 27.7K
104.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.86
$8.05Rp 144.7K
69.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.94
$3.21Rp 57.7K
149.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.45
$8.00Rp 143.8K
94.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.99
$2.38Rp 42.8K
-3.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.45Rp 26.0K
13.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$1.81Rp 32.6K
7.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$1.54Rp 27.7K
62.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.32Rp 23.8K
35.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.97Rp 35.4K
2.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$0.97Rp 17.4K
103.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.41Rp 7,401
104.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.88
$1.87Rp 33.6K
263.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.92
$21.18Rp 380.5K
-73.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.08Rp 37.4K
-33.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.61
$3.23Rp 57.9K
-6.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.32Rp 5,781
609.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.38
$9.97Rp 179.0K
355.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$0.56Rp 10.1K
666.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.38Rp 6,738
123.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.84
$2.88Rp 51.8K
534.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.72
$0.86Rp 15.4K
131.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.4K
$25.0KRp 448.3M
40.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.3K
$27.1KRp 487.2M
45.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€127
$69.6Rp 1.3M
110.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.72
$4.36Rp 78.3K
369.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.78
$23.01Rp 413.5K
69.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.46
$22.69Rp 407.6K
115.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.32
$6.05Rp 108.7K
211.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.25
$3.00Rp 53.9K
217.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€527
$92.9Rp 1.7M
554.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.3K
$7,731Rp 138.9M
113.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.0
$41.79Rp 750.8K
148.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.50
$30.69Rp 551.3K
37.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.9
$66.7Rp 1.2M
38.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$73.7Rp 1.3M
62.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,405
$259Rp 4.7M
525.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,099
$159Rp 2.9M
698.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,642
$595Rp 10.7M
412.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,741
$334Rp 6.0M
501.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,641
$1,207Rp 21.7M
535.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,752
$734Rp 13.2M
490.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,374
$335Rp 6.0M
372.56%
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 8, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $259 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 373% 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 $12.00 in Pontianak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $208 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 242% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $662 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 373% 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $259 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $92.9 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 29% 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 $662 in Pontianak versus $2,263 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 242% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.