😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $655 in Salatiga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,018 in Salatiga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,380 in Salatiga.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 245% more expensive than Salatiga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Salatiga is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$0.96Rp 17.2K
1560.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$10.08Rp 180.5K
528.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$3.00Rp 53.8K
246.00%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$1.56Rp 28.0K
78.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.35Rp 6,186
568.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.23Rp 4,123
582.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$2.13Rp 38.1K
61.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$3.94Rp 70.6K
-0.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.32Rp 23.6K
-18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.45Rp 26.0K
22.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$0.91Rp 16.2K
87.91%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$1.26Rp 22.6K
150.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$9.13Rp 163.6K
49.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$2.81Rp 50.3K
185.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$8.40Rp 150.6K
84.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.41Rp 43.2K
-4.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.50Rp 26.9K
9.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.16Rp 38.8K
-10.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$1.48Rp 26.6K
69.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.34Rp 24.0K
33.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.71Rp 30.7K
17.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.35Rp 6,338
462.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.40Rp 7,134
110.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$2.22Rp 39.8K
205.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$24.45Rp 438.0K
-76.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.86Rp 33.3K
-25.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$3.16Rp 56.7K
-4.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.30Rp 5,297
656.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$9.71Rp 174.0K
367.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$0.47Rp 8,434
812.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.31Rp 5,588
174.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$2.80Rp 50.1K
552.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.69Rp 12.4K
188.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$21.2KRp 380.5M
64.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$35.7KRp 639.6M
10.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$85.0Rp 1.5M
72.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$4.32Rp 77.4K
373.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$19.52Rp 349.8K
99.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$22.89Rp 410.1K
113.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$6.29Rp 112.7K
199.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$2.18Rp 39.0K
336.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$190Rp 3.4M
219.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$9,312Rp 166.8M
77.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$42.97Rp 769.8K
141.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$12.45Rp 223.0K
238.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$49.70Rp 890.4K
85.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$81.8Rp 1.5M
46.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$260Rp 4.7M
523.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$158Rp 2.8M
702.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$597Rp 10.7M
410.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$333Rp 6.0M
503.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$1,177Rp 21.1M
550.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$744Rp 13.3M
481.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
8.33
-54.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $260 in Salatiga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $10.00 in Salatiga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $218 per month, with Salatiga 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 Salatiga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Salatiga?
Lisbon and Salatiga differ by about 245% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $655 including rent). Salatiga 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 Salatiga?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $983 in Salatiga 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 Salatiga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $260 in Salatiga. 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 Salatiga?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $190 in Salatiga. 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 23% 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 $655 in Salatiga versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Salatiga but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Salatiga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Salatiga?
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 Salatiga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Salatiga 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 Salatiga?
Expats usually find Salatiga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 245% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.