😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $627 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $986 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,346 in Pontianak.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 262% more expensive than in Pontianak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Pontianak is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$1.68Rp 29.5K
944.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$14.10Rp 248.2K
357.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$3.31Rp 58.4K
251.96%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$1.15Rp 20.3K
183.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.51Rp 9,010
388.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.25Rp 4,406
568.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$3.15Rp 55.4K
10.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$2.91Rp 51.3K
23.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.18Rp 20.8K
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.06Rp 18.7K
83.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$0.86Rp 15.2K
81.40%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$1.43Rp 25.1K
180.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$7.94Rp 139.7K
67.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$2.74Rp 48.3K
207.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$6.61Rp 116.4K
175.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.21Rp 39.0K
4.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.32Rp 23.2K
31.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.70Rp 30.0K
13.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.17Rp 20.6K
125.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.24Rp 21.9K
53.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$2.10Rp 36.9K
0.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.85Rp 15.0K
69.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.41Rp 7,241
95.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$2.84Rp 50.0K
146.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$20.36Rp 358.4K
-70.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.93Rp 33.9K
-29.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.93Rp 51.6K
-26.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.29Rp 5,174
720.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$0.46Rp 8,103
810.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.32Rp 5,605
243.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$2.94Rp 51.7K
487.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$0.77Rp 13.6K
192.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$20.3KRp 357.6M
69.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$30.0KRp 527.7M
38.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$67.7Rp 1.2M
152.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$5.67Rp 99.9K
235.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$22.67Rp 399.1K
51.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$20.51Rp 361.2K
142.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
$8.37Rp 147.4K
133.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$2.76Rp 48.5K
265.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$97.7Rp 1.7M
615.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$6,709Rp 118.1M
164.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$43.49Rp 765.7K
140.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
$29.60Rp 521.1K
62.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$79.4Rp 1.4M
28.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$76.3Rp 1.3M
68.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$237Rp 4.2M
601.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$158Rp 2.8M
675.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$542Rp 9.5M
437.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$369Rp 6.5M
448.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$1,189Rp 20.9M
583.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
$719Rp 12.7M
544.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$274Rp 4.8M
491.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
10
-62.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $237 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 492% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $14.00 in Pontianak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $193 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 in Pontianak?
Lisbon and Pontianak differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $627 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?
Average pay runs 492% 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 Pontianak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $237 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Pontianak?
All in, you'll spend $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $627 in Pontianak – a 262% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $627 in Pontianak versus $2,268 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 262% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.