😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $657 in Salatiga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,000 in Salatiga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,343 in Salatiga.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 239% more expensive than Salatiga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Salatiga is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$0.96Rp 16.6K
1584.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$10.27Rp 177.9K
528.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$3.14Rp 54.5K
230.57%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.59Rp 27.5K
74.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.35Rp 6,023
542.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.23Rp 3,995
582.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$2.21Rp 38.3K
57.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$3.95Rp 68.5K
1.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.38Rp 24.0K
-21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.52Rp 26.3K
14.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$0.91Rp 15.7K
91.21%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.26Rp 21.8K
152.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$9.00Rp 156.0K
49.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$2.71Rp 47.0K
194.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$8.35Rp 144.8K
92.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.37Rp 41.1K
-3.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.51Rp 26.2K
13.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.12Rp 36.7K
-8.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.49Rp 25.9K
70.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.39Rp 24.0K
31.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.78Rp 30.8K
14.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.38Rp 6,604
421.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.42Rp 7,282
102.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.33Rp 40.4K
193.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$25.76Rp 446.5K
-77.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.77Rp 30.6K
-22.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$3.16Rp 54.8K
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.32Rp 5,606
612.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$10.01Rp 173.6K
367.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.48Rp 8,294
750.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.31Rp 5,453
164.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$2.73Rp 47.2K
569.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.69Rp 12.0K
191.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$20.5KRp 354.7M
72.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$35.5KRp 614.5M
8.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$84.2Rp 1.5M
72.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$4.31Rp 74.6K
386.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$19.87Rp 344.4K
101.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$22.82Rp 395.6K
113.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$5.99Rp 103.9K
212.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$2.12Rp 36.8K
327.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$191Rp 3.3M
217.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$9,480Rp 164.3M
72.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$42.61Rp 738.5K
145.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$12.36Rp 214.2K
231.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$50.0Rp 866.6K
87.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$82.4Rp 1.4M
43.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$254Rp 4.4M
532.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$157Rp 2.7M
685.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$588Rp 10.2M
417.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$333Rp 5.8M
517.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,211Rp 21.0M
536.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$745Rp 12.9M
472.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $254 in Salatiga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $10.00 in Salatiga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $221 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 239% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $657 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 $3,341 in Lisbon and $986 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $254 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $191 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 22% 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 $657 in Salatiga versus $2,227 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 239% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.