😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $811 in Saraburi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,515 in Saraburi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,220 in Saraburi.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 183% more expensive than in Saraburi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Saraburi is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$6.53฿218
169.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$27.51฿918
128.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$6.77฿226
71.05%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.30฿76.8
34.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.75฿25.02
232.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.25฿8.25
596.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$2.02฿67.5
72.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$3.17฿106
8.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.50฿50.1
-23.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.16฿38.80
64.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.40฿46.57
7.14%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$2.22฿74.0
79.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$15.82฿528
-15.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$2.69฿89.9
197.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$10.31฿344
74.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$5.02฿168
-53.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.76฿58.8
-0.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.25฿75.1
-17.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.95฿65.1
30.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.52฿50.8
21.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.09฿36.23
92.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.10฿36.75
35.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.53฿17.53
54.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$4.40฿147
61.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$21.72฿725
-72.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.67฿55.8
-21.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.88฿96.0
-26.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.94฿31.46
151.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.34฿44.60
204.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.10฿36.64
3.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$4.01฿134
326.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.43฿47.67
61.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$26.9K฿896.5K
27.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$26.8K฿894.3K
54.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$85.7฿2,861
96.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$11.71฿391
65.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$16.75฿559
100.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$47.17฿1,575
3.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$14.18฿473
37.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$6.58฿220
45.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$564฿18.8K
23.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$6,810฿227.3K
154.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$50.7฿1,693
107.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$29.79฿995
60.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$79.4฿2,649
26.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$77.5฿2,588
60.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$463฿15.4K
259.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$127฿4,247
879.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$1,388฿46.3K
113.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$758฿25.3K
170.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$2,016฿67.3K
288.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$1,622฿54.1K
175.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$452฿15.1K
260.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
5.57
-32.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Saraburi: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $463 in Saraburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 261% 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 $28.00 in Saraburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $262 per month, with Saraburi 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 Saraburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Saraburi?
Lisbon and Saraburi differ by about 183% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $811 including rent). Saraburi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Saraburi?
Average pay runs 261% 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 Saraburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $463 in Saraburi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Saraburi?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $811 in Saraburi – a 183% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $811 in Saraburi versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Saraburi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Saraburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Saraburi?
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 Saraburi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Saraburi 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 Saraburi?
Expats usually find Saraburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.