😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,689 in Port Moresby.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,472 in Port Moresby.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $3,255 in Port Moresby.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 31% more expensive than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Port Moresby26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$9.84PGK 42.93
61.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$47.81PGK 209
35.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$5.94PGK 25.92
76.94%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.29PGK 10.01
25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.75PGK 3.29
198.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.83PGK 3.63
80.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.37PGK 10.35
47.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$4.15PGK 18.10
-6.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$2.00PGK 8.72
-43.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.56PGK 6.80
12.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.49PGK 6.48
18.12%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.89PGK 16.95
-17.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$4.56PGK 19.88
195.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$6.41PGK 27.97
23.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$9.34PGK 40.72
69.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$3.98PGK 17.34
-41.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.89PGK 12.62
-41.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$5.58PGK 24.34
-63.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$5.66PGK 24.67
-56.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$3.40PGK 14.81
-45.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.68PGK 11.70
-25.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$2.96PGK 12.89
-34.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.32PGK 5.74
-40.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$6.67PGK 29.09
-0.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$11.88PGK 51.8
-51.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.88PGK 12.58
-52.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.82PGK 16.65
-22.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.47PGK 2.04
404.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$23.77PGK 104
91.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$5.85PGK 25.52
-26.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.40PGK 10.49
-65.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$16.49PGK 71.9
10.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.14PGK 4.99
80.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$22.9KPGK 99.9K
49.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$24.6KPGK 107.3K
59.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$105PGK 458
40.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$46.75PGK 204
-56.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$382PGK 1,667
-89.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$67.2PGK 293
-28.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$20.62PGK 89.9
-8.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$9.73PGK 42.44
-5.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$639PGK 2,787
-3.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,095PGK 17.9K
291.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$31.07PGK 136
236.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$36.74PGK 160
14.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$77.1PGK 336
21.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$98.6PGK 430
21.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$2,151PGK 9,380
-24.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$481PGK 2,096
161.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$3,423PGK 14.9K
-11.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$826PGK 3,603
144.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$2,127PGK 9,275
266.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$3,892PGK 17.0K
9.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Port Moresby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$446PGK 1,945
259.59%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $2,151 in Port Moresby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 260% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $48.00 in Port Moresby. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $308, 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 Port Moresby?
Lisbon and Port Moresby differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,689 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?
Lisbon pays 260% 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 Port Moresby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $2,151 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $639 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 31% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.