😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $853 in Ratchaburi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,388 in Ratchaburi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,923 in Ratchaburi.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 165% more expensive than Ratchaburi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Ratchaburi is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$3.74฿122
326.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$30.22฿984
109.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$6.02฿196
72.43%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$1.06฿34.40
163.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.30฿9.66
680.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.32฿10.57
390.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$2.27฿73.8
51.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$2.12฿69.0
84.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.76฿57.3
-38.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.19฿38.80
48.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$0.60฿19.57
185.00%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.33฿75.7
35.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$15.71฿512
-12.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$2.49฿81.1
221.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$6.75฿220
129.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.02฿98.5
-24.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$0.65฿21.13
152.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.25฿40.55
55.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$0.41฿13.39
512.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$0.96฿31.26
86.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.90฿29.23
123.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.60฿19.53
228.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.53฿17.20
58.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$3.42฿112
98.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$16.90฿550
-66.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.81฿58.8
-23.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.10฿68.3
43.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.89฿28.87
155.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$31.32฿1,020
45.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$1.06฿34.53
304.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.49฿16.05
73.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$3.42฿111
434.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.95฿30.92
109.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$28.7K฿935.8K
21.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$21.8K฿711.3K
81.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$60.5฿1,971
141.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$13.64฿444
49.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$10.97฿357
255.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$48.95฿1,594
0.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$12.22฿398
54.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$3.92฿128
142.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$289฿9,396
110.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$9,334฿304.0K
76.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$30.00฿977
246.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$19.98฿651
110.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$102฿3,320
-9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$43.84฿1,428
173.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$431฿14.1K
275.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$284฿9,240
346.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$809฿26.3K
276.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$646฿21.0K
211.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$1,942฿63.3K
294.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$1,508฿49.1K
187.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4
-4.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ratchaburi: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $431 in Ratchaburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $30.00 in Ratchaburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $208 per month, with Ratchaburi 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 Ratchaburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Ratchaburi?
Lisbon and Ratchaburi differ by about 165% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $853 including rent). Ratchaburi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Ratchaburi?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $1,280 in Ratchaburi 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Ratchaburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $431 in Ratchaburi. 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 Ratchaburi?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $289 in Ratchaburi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $853 in Ratchaburi versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ratchaburi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ratchaburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ratchaburi?
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 Ratchaburi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ratchaburi 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 Ratchaburi?
Expats usually find Ratchaburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.