😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $819 in Puerto Princesa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,172 in Puerto Princesa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,526 in Puerto Princesa.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 180% more expensive than in Puerto Princesa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Puerto Princesa is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$4.13₱254
292.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$26.50₱1,632
138.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$4.38₱269
135.62%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.42₱149
16.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.63₱38.66
263.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.39₱23.79
305.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.27₱78.1
167.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$1.75₱108
130.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.59₱97.8
-31.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.14₱70.1
53.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.85₱52.5
107.06%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.87₱115
69.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$9.03₱556
46.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$4.94₱304
61.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$6.31₱389
146.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$3.58₱220
-33.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.99₱61.1
72.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.52₱217
-42.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.93₱57.2
161.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.81₱112
-2.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.32₱81.2
53.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.08₱66.7
77.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.78₱47.91
8.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.10₱191
112.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$7.11₱438
-21.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.07₱66.1
24.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.79₱110
65.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.26₱15.80
776.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.78₱110
137.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.22₱13.47
268.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$2.17₱134
749.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.17₱71.9
77.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$14.1K₱865.5K
146.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$20.7K₱1.3M
89.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$121₱7,454
22.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$13.75₱847
48.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$33.59₱2,068
17.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$26.78₱1,649
79.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$4.35₱268
327.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$5.45₱335
69.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$63.0₱3,878
878.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$4,379₱269.6K
275.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$45.36₱2,792
126.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$26.99₱1,661
54.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$74.4₱4,581
27.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$53.7₱3,305
127.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$287₱17.7K
469.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$226₱13.9K
445.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$449₱27.6K
590.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$307₱18.9K
560.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$2,412₱148.5K
224.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$965₱59.4K
354.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Puerto Princesa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$226₱13.9K
612.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
8.25
-53.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Puerto Princesa: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $287 in Puerto Princesa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 612% 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 $27.00 in Puerto Princesa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $196 per month, with Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Puerto Princesa?
Lisbon and Puerto Princesa differ by about 180% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $819 including rent). Puerto Princesa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Puerto Princesa?
Average pay runs 612% 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 Puerto Princesa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $287 in Puerto Princesa. 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 36% 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 Puerto Princesa?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $819 in Puerto Princesa – a 180% 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 $819 in Puerto Princesa versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto Princesa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto Princesa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Puerto Princesa?
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 Puerto Princesa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Puerto Princesa 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 Puerto Princesa?
Expats usually find Puerto Princesa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.