Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Pontianak Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Pontianak

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$1.68 Rp 29.5K
944.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$14.10 Rp 248.2K
357.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$3.31 Rp 58.4K
251.96%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$1.15 Rp 20.3K
183.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$0.51 Rp 9,010
388.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$0.25 Rp 4,406
568.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$3.15 Rp 55.4K
10.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$2.91 Rp 51.3K
23.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.18 Rp 20.8K
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.06 Rp 18.7K
83.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$0.86 Rp 15.2K
81.40%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$1.43 Rp 25.1K
180.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
$7.94 Rp 139.7K
67.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$2.74 Rp 48.3K
207.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$6.61 Rp 116.4K
175.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$2.21 Rp 39.0K
4.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.32 Rp 23.2K
31.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$1.70 Rp 30.0K
13.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
125.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$1.24 Rp 21.9K
53.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$2.10 Rp 36.9K
0.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$0.85 Rp 15.0K
69.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.41 Rp 7,241
95.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$2.84 Rp 50.0K
146.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$20.36 Rp 358.4K
-70.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.93 Rp 33.9K
-29.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$2.93 Rp 51.6K
-26.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$0.29 Rp 5,174
720.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$0.46 Rp 8,103
810.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$0.32 Rp 5,605
243.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$2.94 Rp 51.7K
487.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
192.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$20.3K Rp 357.6M
69.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$30.0K Rp 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
$67.7 Rp 1.2M
152.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
$5.67 Rp 99.9K
235.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$22.67 Rp 399.1K
51.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$20.51 Rp 361.2K
142.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
$8.37 Rp 147.4K
133.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$2.76 Rp 48.5K
265.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
615.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$6,709 Rp 118.1M
164.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$43.49 Rp 765.7K
140.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$29.60 Rp 521.1K
62.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
28.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$76.3 Rp 1.3M
68.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$237 Rp 4.2M
601.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$158 Rp 2.8M
675.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$542 Rp 9.5M
437.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$369 Rp 6.5M
448.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
$1,189 Rp 20.9M
583.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
$719 Rp 12.7M
544.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$274 Rp 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.

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