Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Puttalam Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Puttalam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $89.5 in Puttalam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $127 in Puttalam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $165 in Puttalam.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 2378% more expensive than in Puttalam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Puttalam is 93% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.78 €13.77

$1.71 LKR 571

822.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.5 €54.5

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.54 €9.19

$4.97 LKR 1,658

112.07%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.41

$1.32 LKR 441

109.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 €1.99

$1.32 LKR 441

72.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 €1.35

$0.31 LKR 105

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 €3.09

$4.92 LKR 1,643

-27.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 €3.47

$6.66 LKR 2,223

-40.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 €1.54

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 €1.54

Eggs

$3.12 €2.72

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.34 €11.64

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.92 €13.89

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 €1.43

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 €2.14

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 €1.54

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 €1.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 €1.72

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 €0.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.54 €5.70

Wine (Bottle)

$5.75 €5.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 €1.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 €2.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.85 €40.01

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 €3.71

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 €0.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.86 €16.45

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.07 €1.81

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.2K €30.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.6K €33.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 €132

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.91 €18.24

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.54 €34.50

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.39 €42.22

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.61 €16.24

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 €7.89

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$610 €532

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €14.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 €88.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.58 €35.41

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 €81.2

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €104

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 €1,398

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,239 €1,081

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,019 €2,634

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,061 €1,798

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,981 €6,963

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,533 €3,955

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,628 €1,421

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Puttalam: June 14, 2026

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 Puttalam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Puttalam differ by about 2378% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $89.5 including rent). Puttalam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $134 in Puttalam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $89.5 in Puttalam versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puttalam but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Puttalam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Puttalam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Puttalam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2378% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.