😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,702 in Port Moresby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,442 in Port Moresby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,181 in Port Moresby.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 35% more expensive than in Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Port Moresby27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.15
$9.40PGK 41.38
72.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.3
$48.47PGK 213
30.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.02
$5.87PGK 25.84
75.81%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.47
$2.29PGK 10.09
23.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.80PGK 3.53
186.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.78PGK 3.45
102.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.97
$2.45PGK 10.76
38.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$4.13PGK 18.15
-2.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.93PGK 8.51
-43.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.60PGK 7.02
9.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.49PGK 6.55
18.12%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.75PGK 16.49
-15.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.53
$4.53PGK 19.91
191.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.96
$6.22PGK 27.35
28.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.57
$9.76PGK 42.96
59.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$4.07PGK 17.90
-41.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.82PGK 12.39
-39.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.75
$5.70PGK 25.08
-64.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.12
$5.41PGK 23.81
-55.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$3.25PGK 14.29
-45.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.78PGK 12.21
-26.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$3.08PGK 13.55
-37.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.27PGK 5.58
-33.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.75
$6.99PGK 30.74
-5.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.87
$11.86PGK 52.2
-52.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$2.82PGK 12.39
-52.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$3.83PGK 16.84
-22.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.50PGK 2.20
356.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.01
$23.88PGK 105
91.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$6.10PGK 26.85
-30.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$2.44PGK 10.73
-66.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.11
$17.09PGK 75.2
7.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.14PGK 5.00
82.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$22.3KPGK 98.2K
55.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.2K
$24.9KPGK 109.4K
57.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$108PGK 475
37.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.88
$47.63PGK 210
-57.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.56
$377PGK 1,657
-89.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.93
$66.5PGK 293
-27.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.25
$20.71PGK 91.1
-10.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.06
$9.84PGK 43.29
-6.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€538
$633PGK 2,786
-2.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$4,013PGK 17.7K
309.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.7
$31.33PGK 138
227.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.47
$37.00PGK 163
12.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.8
$76.2PGK 335
24.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$97.2PGK 428
25.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,426
$2,203PGK 9,694
-25.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,077
$478PGK 2,102
157.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,707
$3,447PGK 15.2K
-10.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,775
$840PGK 3,694
141.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,842
$2,088PGK 9,188
274.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,835
$3,904PGK 17.2K
12.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,404
$439PGK 1,932
266.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
13.33
-71.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $2,203 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 266% 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 $48.00 in Port Moresby. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $306, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Port Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Port Moresby?
Lisbon and Port Moresby differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,702 including rent). Port Moresby is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Port Moresby?
Average pay runs 266% 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 Port Moresby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $2,203 in Port Moresby. 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 Port Moresby?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $633 in Port Moresby. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Port Moresby is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Port Moresby?
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 Port Moresby safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Port Moresby 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 Port Moresby?
Expats usually find Port Moresby gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.