😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $671 in Salatiga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,026 in Salatiga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,382 in Salatiga.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 240% more expensive than in Salatiga, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Salatiga is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$0.94Rp 17.0K
1575.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$9.94Rp 179.4K
538.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$3.06Rp 55.2K
241.50%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$1.51Rp 27.3K
92.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.37Rp 6,698
518.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.23Rp 4,169
552.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.09Rp 37.7K
70.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$3.89Rp 70.2K
1.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.32Rp 23.8K
-18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.50Rp 27.0K
17.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$0.95Rp 17.2K
78.95%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$1.33Rp 23.9K
144.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$9.49Rp 171.3K
39.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$2.73Rp 49.3K
182.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$8.41Rp 151.9K
87.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.37Rp 42.7K
-3.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.55Rp 28.0K
7.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$2.20Rp 39.7K
-8.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.43Rp 25.8K
72.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.32Rp 23.9K
35.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.72Rp 31.1K
20.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.36Rp 6,484
447.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.40Rp 7,166
107.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.31Rp 41.7K
183.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$25.15Rp 454.0K
-77.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.85Rp 33.3K
-28.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$3.22Rp 58.1K
-6.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.30Rp 5,371
656.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$10.01Rp 180.6K
363.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$0.44Rp 8,007
861.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.31Rp 5,650
174.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$2.79Rp 50.4K
574.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.71Rp 12.9K
184.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$21.1KRp 381.2M
65.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$34.5KRp 623.1M
14.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$83.0Rp 1.5M
78.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$4.16Rp 75.2K
393.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$19.21Rp 346.7K
105.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$22.73Rp 410.4K
111.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$6.30Rp 113.7K
191.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$2.10Rp 37.8K
333.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$189Rp 3.4M
224.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$9,453Rp 170.7M
72.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$43.81Rp 790.8K
131.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$12.44Rp 224.6K
238.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$49.71Rp 897.5K
85.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$84.0Rp 1.5M
45.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$259Rp 4.7M
522.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$155Rp 2.8M
708.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$593Rp 10.7M
417.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$331Rp 6.0M
515.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,192Rp 21.5M
550.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$717Rp 12.9M
497.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $259 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 $267 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 in Salatiga?
Lisbon and Salatiga differ by about 240% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $671 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 $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,007 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 in Salatiga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $259 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $189 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 21% 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 $671 in Salatiga versus $2,280 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 240% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.