😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $779 in Saraburi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,424 in Saraburi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $2,069 in Saraburi.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 193% more expensive than in Saraburi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Saraburi is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$3.00฿100
425.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$27.45฿916
131.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$6.85฿229
52.55%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$2.36฿78.9
23.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$0.71฿23.74
222.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.27฿9.08
455.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.06฿68.7
72.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$3.16฿106
25.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.55฿51.8
-30.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$1.13฿37.61
55.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.31฿43.61
29.77%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$2.24฿74.8
45.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$18.62฿621
-28.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$3.04฿101
153.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$10.94฿365
44.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$5.15฿172
-55.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.84฿61.3
-9.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$1.90฿63.5
6.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$1.55฿51.7
59.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.53฿51.0
16.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.24฿41.51
66.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$1.01฿33.71
95.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.48฿15.95
72.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$4.45฿149
47.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$20.41฿681
-72.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.82฿60.8
-26.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$2.75฿91.7
9.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.96฿31.94
136.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$1.10฿36.59
284.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.20฿40.07
-29.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$6.04฿201
211.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.24฿41.22
62.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$27.3K฿912.0K
27.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$28.0K฿933.0K
41.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$75.7฿2,527
95.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$13.59฿453
50.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$17.15฿572
130.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$49.39฿1,648
-2.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$12.09฿403
52.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$6.90฿230
31.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$303฿10.1K
103.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$6,826฿227.7K
138.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$33.53฿1,118
202.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$34.66฿1,156
21.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$100฿3,338
-7.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$71.0฿2,370
71.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$428฿14.3K
276.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$132฿4,406
849.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$808฿27.0K
279.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$662฿22.1K
207.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$1,864฿62.2K
315.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$1,359฿45.3K
215.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Saraburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$441฿14.7K
263.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.45
-30.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Saraburi: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $428 in Saraburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 263% 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 $27.00 in Saraburi. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $269, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 193% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $779 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 263% 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $428 in Saraburi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Saraburi?
All in, you'll spend $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $779 in Saraburi – a 193% 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 $779 in Saraburi versus $2,280 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 193% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.