Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Shillong Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Shillong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $449 in Shillong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $696 in Shillong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $944 in Shillong.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 393% more expensive than Shillong, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Shillong is 67% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$1.39 ₹133
1044.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$10.66 ₹1,020
507.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$4.56 ₹436
130.48%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.18 ₹113
143.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.36 ₹34.58
522.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.12 ₹11.42
1150.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$1.43 ₹137
144.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$3.29 ₹315
17.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$0.65 ₹62.1
75.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.37 ₹34.96
372.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.52 ₹49.80
238.46%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$0.85 ₹81.6
278.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$4.41 ₹422
205.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$3.32 ₹318
138.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.85 ₹177
24.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$0.75 ₹72.2
126.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$0.92 ₹88.0
118.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.60 ₹57.6
310.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.31 ₹29.74
493.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.36 ₹34.30
455.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.37 ₹35.25
421.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.17 ₹15.88
364.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$4.08 ₹391
62.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$4.63 ₹443
23.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.53 ₹146
-10.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.81 ₹268
5.69%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.21 ₹403
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.30 ₹28.91
690.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$8.88 ₹850
413.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.76 ₹73.1
464.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$1.48 ₹141
1136.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.15 ₹111
79.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$13.9K ₹1.3M
145.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$18.0K ₹1.7M
118.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$39.75 ₹3,804
272.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$3.31 ₹317
519.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$5.70 ₹546
594.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$4.59 ₹439
942.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$5.93 ₹568
219.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$2.98 ₹286
208.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$32.18 ₹3,080
1807.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$1,908 ₹182.6K
741.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$25.38 ₹2,429
312.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$35.62 ₹3,409
18.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$45.79 ₹4,381
105.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$42.26 ₹4,044
183.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$254 ₹24.3K
541.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$158 ₹15.1K
694.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$466 ₹44.6K
549.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$319 ₹30.5K
533.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Shillong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$438 ₹41.9K
266.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
7.38
-48.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Shillong: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $254 in Shillong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 266% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $11.00 in Shillong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $94.0 per month, with Shillong 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 Shillong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Shillong?
Lisbon and Shillong differ by about 393% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $449 including rent). Shillong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Shillong?
Lisbon pays 266% more on average, 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 Shillong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $254 in Shillong. 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 Shillong?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $32.18 in Shillong. 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 188% 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 $449 in Shillong versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shillong but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Shillong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Shillong?
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 Shillong safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Shillong 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 Shillong?
Expats usually find Shillong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 393% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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