Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sibolga Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sibolga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $591 in Sibolga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $944 in Sibolga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,296 in Sibolga.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 286% more expensive than in Sibolga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Sibolga is 56% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.64
$1.55 Rp 28.0K
916.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.0
$12.22 Rp 220.7K
419.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.05
$3.48 Rp 62.7K
200.29%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.52
$1.67 Rp 30.1K
74.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.98
$0.51 Rp 9,295
349.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.28 Rp 5,108
435.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.09
$3.11 Rp 56.1K
14.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.43
$2.65 Rp 47.9K
49.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
-11.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.18 Rp 21.4K
49.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
82.80%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.81
$1.59 Rp 28.7K
104.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.47
$8.33 Rp 150.3K
59.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.67
$2.27 Rp 41.0K
239.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.66
$9.10 Rp 164.2K
73.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.30 Rp 41.5K
-0.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.51 Rp 27.3K
9.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.89 Rp 34.1K
6.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.14
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
65.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$0.71 Rp 12.9K
152.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.79
$1.53 Rp 27.6K
35.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.71
$0.91 Rp 16.4K
116.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.72
$0.35 Rp 6,334
137.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.68
$1.73 Rp 31.2K
278.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.82
$23.19 Rp 418.7K
-75.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$2.31 Rp 41.7K
-42.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.60
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
29.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$0.41 Rp 7,381
453.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.14
$9.68 Rp 174.7K
378.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.66
$0.53 Rp 9,591
698.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.37 Rp 6,753
129.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.31
$2.86 Rp 51.7K
558.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.06 Rp 19.2K
90.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.3K
$24.7K Rp 445.4M
41.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.3K
$27.3K Rp 492.0M
45.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$26.79 Rp 483.7K
452.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.77
$4.22 Rp 76.2K
386.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.23
$22.81 Rp 411.8K
73.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €41.72
$23.00 Rp 415.3K
109.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €15.92
$6.08 Rp 109.8K
202.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.88
$3.09 Rp 55.8K
194.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €532
$24.11 Rp 435.3K
2449.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.1K
$7,603 Rp 137.3M
114.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.0
$15.45 Rp 278.8K
557.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.45
$18.19 Rp 328.3K
131.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €79.9
$66.2 Rp 1.2M
39.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$74.7 Rp 1.3M
63.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,396
$260 Rp 4.7M
518.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,086
$159 Rp 2.9M
687.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,658
$583 Rp 10.5M
426.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,764
$332 Rp 6.0M
514.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,712
$1,293 Rp 23.3M
499.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,712
$622 Rp 11.2M
589.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
9.15
-58.36%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sibolga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $260 in Sibolga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $12.00 in Sibolga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $209 per month, with Sibolga 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 Sibolga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sibolga?
Lisbon and Sibolga differ by about 286% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $591 including rent). Sibolga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Sibolga?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $887 in Sibolga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Sibolga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $260 in Sibolga. 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 Sibolga?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $24.11 in Sibolga. 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 28% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $591 in Sibolga versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sibolga but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sibolga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sibolga?
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 Sibolga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sibolga 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 Sibolga?
Expats usually find Sibolga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 286% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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