😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,177 in Setagaya-ku.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,886 in Setagaya-ku.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,595 in Setagaya-ku.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 95% more expensive than in Setagaya-ku, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Setagaya-ku is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$7.04¥1,144
129.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$34.03¥5,530
86.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$5.25¥853
96.57%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.26¥530
-13.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.13¥184
102.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.77¥124
105.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.12¥345
60.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.04¥332
97.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.55¥252
-29.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.72¥280
1.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$4.95¥805
-64.44%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.59¥258
99.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$9.91¥1,609
33.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$6.25¥1,015
27.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$15.22¥2,473
2.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$5.96¥968
-60.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$3.10¥503
-44.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$4.00¥649
-49.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$4.48¥729
-45.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$3.25¥527
-45.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$3.67¥596
-44.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.38¥224
39.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.82¥134
3.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$4.10¥666
60.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$9.36¥1,521
-40.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.84¥298
-27.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.14¥348
38.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$1.49¥242
53.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$56.3¥9,139
-18.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$3.54¥576
19.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$2.99¥486
-72.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$22.45¥3,647
-17.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.22¥198
70.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$22.8K¥3.7M
52.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$18.2K¥3.0M
115.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$83.7¥13.6K
76.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$27.41¥4,453
-25.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$34.46¥5,600
14.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$48.43¥7,868
-0.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$13.61¥2,211
36.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$13.23¥2,149
-30.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$285¥46.3K
116.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$13.7K¥2.2M
19.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$42.41¥6,891
142.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$24.10¥3,916
73.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$44.69¥7,262
112.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$97.6¥15.9K
24.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$467¥75.8K
249.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$330¥53.7K
272.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$865¥140.5K
258.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$664¥107.9K
205.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$4,241¥689.0K
84.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$1,788¥290.5K
145.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$1,417¥230.3K
13.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
2
90.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Setagaya-ku: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $467 in Setagaya-ku. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 13% 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 $34.00 in Setagaya-ku. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $317, 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 Setagaya-ku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Setagaya-ku?
Lisbon and Setagaya-ku differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,177 including rent). Setagaya-ku is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Setagaya-ku?
Average pay runs 13% 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 Setagaya-ku?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $467 in Setagaya-ku. 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 Setagaya-ku?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $285 in Setagaya-ku. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,177 in Setagaya-ku versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Setagaya-ku but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Setagaya-ku the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Setagaya-ku?
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 Setagaya-ku safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Setagaya-ku 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 Setagaya-ku?
Expats usually find Setagaya-ku gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.