😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,175 in Setagaya-ku.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,805 in Setagaya-ku.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,434 in Setagaya-ku.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 97% more expensive than in Setagaya-ku, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Setagaya-ku is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.87
$6.27¥976
175.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$25.53¥3,973
147.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.79
$4.47¥696
154.81%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.74
$2.89¥450
10.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.07¥167
128.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.60¥93.8
193.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.24¥349
60.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.07¥477
10.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.24¥192
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.71¥265
15.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$3.57¥556
-57.42%
Eggs
$4.04€3.47
$1.22¥190
231.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.64
$11.57¥1,800
17.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.21
$5.85¥911
43.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.69
$14.22¥2,213
28.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$5.69¥885
-59.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.79¥435
-37.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.77¥431
-32.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$4.07¥634
-35.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.62¥407
-26.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.65¥412
-21.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.26¥197
14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.54¥83.5
55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$3.70¥576
83.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$6.28¥978
-9.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.71¥267
-19.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.01¥312
10.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$1.46¥227
64.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.22
$58.8¥9,152
-20.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$2.61¥405
59.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.55¥397
-55.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.20
$20.04¥3,119
-11.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.06¥164
118.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$21.6K¥3.4M
63.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.6K
$17.8K¥2.8M
132.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€146
$130¥20.3K
30.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.62
$24.06¥3,745
-19.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.92
$31.88¥4,962
5.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.35
$50.4¥7,851
-4.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.11
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.53
$11.79¥1,835
-15.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$635¥98.8K
13.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$14.5K¥2.3M
20.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$36.87¥5,739
184.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.36
$32.69¥5,087
43.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$60.4¥9,402
71.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$62.1¥9,660
99.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,441
$459¥71.4K
265.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,093
$320¥49.9K
296.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,566
$1,206¥187.8K
147.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,713
$693¥107.8K
187.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,728
$4,726¥735.6K
65.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,004
$2,124¥330.6K
119.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Setagaya-ku
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,361
$1,446¥225.1K
9.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
2
89.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Setagaya-ku: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $459 in Setagaya-ku. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 9% 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 $26.00 in Setagaya-ku for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $282 per month, with Setagaya-ku 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 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 97% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,175 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 9% 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: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $459 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 $717 in Lisbon versus $635 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% 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 $1,175 in Setagaya-ku versus $2,316 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 97% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.