😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $696 in Samarinda.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,067 in Samarinda.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,439 in Samarinda.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 228% more expensive than in Samarinda, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Samarinda is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$1.52Rp 27.4K
936.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$12.05Rp 217.5K
426.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$5.87Rp 106.0K
78.02%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$1.65Rp 29.8K
76.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.49Rp 8,909
367.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.38Rp 6,902
294.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.47Rp 44.6K
44.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$3.58Rp 64.7K
10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.17Rp 21.1K
-7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$0.93Rp 16.7K
89.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$0.77Rp 13.9K
120.78%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$1.59Rp 28.6K
104.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$7.96Rp 143.6K
66.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$3.98Rp 71.8K
93.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$10.94Rp 197.5K
44.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$5.68Rp 102.6K
-59.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.26Rp 22.8K
31.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.20Rp 21.6K
68.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.58Rp 28.5K
56.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.45Rp 26.1K
23.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$2.02Rp 36.5K
2.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$0.91Rp 16.5K
116.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.55Rp 10.0K
50.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$2.26Rp 40.9K
189.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$20.14Rp 363.6K
-72.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$2.04Rp 36.7K
-34.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$3.21Rp 58.0K
-6.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.32Rp 5,810
609.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$10.05Rp 181.4K
361.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$0.94Rp 17.0K
350.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.38Rp 6,821
123.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$2.85Rp 51.4K
560.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.64Rp 11.5K
215.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$24.5KRp 441.9M
42.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$27.4KRp 495.4M
44.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$70.0Rp 1.3M
111.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$4.32Rp 78.1K
375.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$23.17Rp 418.2K
70.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$23.10Rp 417.0K
108.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$6.00Rp 108.3K
206.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$3.15Rp 56.8K
188.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$95.0Rp 1.7M
547.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$7,587Rp 137.0M
114.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$41.68Rp 752.4K
143.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$30.38Rp 548.5K
38.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$67.4Rp 1.2M
37.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$75.3Rp 1.4M
62.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$257Rp 4.6M
527.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$156Rp 2.8M
705.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$581Rp 10.5M
427.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$337Rp 6.1M
504.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,237Rp 22.3M
526.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$667Rp 12.0M
542.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Samarinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$322Rp 5.8M
397.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.15
-58.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Samarinda: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $257 in Samarinda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 397% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $12.00 in Samarinda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $231 per month, with Samarinda 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 Samarinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Samarinda?
Lisbon and Samarinda differ by about 228% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $696 including rent). Samarinda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Samarinda?
Average pay runs 397% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Samarinda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $257 in Samarinda. 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 Samarinda?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $95.0 in Samarinda. 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 15% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $696 in Samarinda versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Samarinda but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Samarinda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Samarinda?
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 Samarinda safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Samarinda 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 Samarinda?
Expats usually find Samarinda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 228% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.