😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $832 in Ratchaburi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,391 in Ratchaburi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,949 in Ratchaburi.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 174% more expensive than in Ratchaburi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Ratchaburi is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$3.73฿124
322.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$31.01฿1,035
104.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$6.05฿202
72.73%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$1.06฿35.48
174.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.30฿9.93
663.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.32฿10.72
368.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.36฿78.8
50.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$2.14฿71.5
85.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.74฿58.0
-37.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.15฿38.49
53.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$0.60฿20.02
183.33%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.29฿76.5
41.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$15.46฿516
-14.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$2.39฿79.8
222.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$6.94฿231
127.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$3.15฿105
-27.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$0.64฿21.49
159.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.20฿40.02
68.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$0.45฿14.97
448.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$0.96฿32.12
86.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$0.84฿28.03
146.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.60฿20.08
228.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.52฿17.51
59.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$3.40฿113
92.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$17.75฿592
-68.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.75฿58.3
-24.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.19฿73.2
37.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.89฿29.56
155.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$31.31฿1,044
48.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$1.06฿35.28
299.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.46฿15.33
84.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$3.30฿110
470.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.97฿32.43
108.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$28.5K฿950.6K
22.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$21.3K฿710.4K
86.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$62.3฿2,077
137.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$13.80฿461
48.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$10.92฿364
261.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$48.40฿1,615
-0.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$12.03฿401
52.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$4.09฿136
122.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$296฿9,889
107.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$9,407฿313.8K
73.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$30.00฿1,001
238.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$19.60฿654
114.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$100฿3,340
-7.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$43.36฿1,446
181.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$421฿14.0K
282.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$280฿9,349
347.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$797฿26.6K
285.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$662฿22.1K
207.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,865฿62.2K
315.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$1,390฿46.4K
208.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ratchaburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ratchaburi: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $421 in Ratchaburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $31.00 in Ratchaburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 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 in Ratchaburi?
Lisbon and Ratchaburi differ by about 174% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $832 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,248 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 in Ratchaburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $421 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $296 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 28% 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 $832 in Ratchaburi versus $2,280 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 174% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.