😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,508 in Port Moresby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $2,365 in Port Moresby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $3,222 in Port Moresby.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 50% more expensive than in Port Moresby, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon64% above, Port Moresby9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.12
$8.04PGK 34.89
118.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$44.45PGK 193
45.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$5.61PGK 24.33
107.66%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$2.48PGK 10.75
31.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.79PGK 3.44
215.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.66PGK 2.85
153.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
$3.11PGK 13.50
11.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
$3.65PGK 15.84
-1.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.89PGK 8.20
-37.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.46PGK 6.32
33.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.44PGK 6.23
8.33%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$3.59PGK 15.59
11.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.44
$8.78PGK 38.10
51.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$5.18PGK 22.48
62.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$8.83PGK 38.30
106.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$4.17PGK 18.12
-44.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$3.06PGK 13.29
-43.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$6.06PGK 26.32
-68.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$6.09PGK 26.43
-56.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$3.34PGK 14.49
-43.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$2.58PGK 11.19
-18.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$2.17PGK 9.43
-33.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$1.25PGK 5.43
-36.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$6.33PGK 27.45
10.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
$11.88PGK 51.6
-50.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$2.71PGK 11.77
-49.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$3.45PGK 14.96
-37.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.43PGK 1.86
453.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.85
$22.22PGK 96.4
108.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$5.62PGK 24.37
-25.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$2.21PGK 9.61
-50.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$15.93PGK 69.1
8.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$1.00PGK 4.33
125.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$21.3KPGK 92.3K
62.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$17.6KPGK 76.5K
136.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$117PGK 509
45.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.38
$23.37PGK 101
-18.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.55
$93.9PGK 407
-63.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.80
$62.0PGK 269
-19.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.81
$22.65PGK 98.3
-13.86%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$8.91PGK 38.67
13.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$839PGK 3,643
-16.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$6,271PGK 27.2K
183.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$32.71PGK 142
219.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.35
$32.00PGK 139
49.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$140PGK 607
-27.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$165PGK 715
-22.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,432
$1,627PGK 7,059
2.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$559PGK 2,425
119.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,513
$2,758PGK 12.0K
5.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,744
$1,137PGK 4,935
77.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,007
$2,098PGK 9,103
287.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,996
$3,908PGK 17.0K
18.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$428PGK 1,857
278.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
12.17
-68.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Port Moresby: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $1,627 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 278% 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 $44.00 in Port Moresby. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $309, 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 50% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $1,508 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 278% 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: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $1,627 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 $699 in Lisbon versus $839 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 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,508 in Port Moresby versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Moresby but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Port Moresby the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 50% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.