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: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $629 in Sibolga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $996 in Sibolga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,363 in Sibolga.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 265% more expensive than in Sibolga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Sibolga is 54% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$1.86 Rp 33.0K
845.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$12.51 Rp 221.6K
402.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$3.09 Rp 54.8K
274.76%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$1.48 Rp 26.3K
109.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$0.43 Rp 7,596
479.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$0.22 Rp 3,949
690.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$2.17 Rp 38.4K
60.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$3.47 Rp 61.5K
-0.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.29 Rp 22.8K
-10.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.25 Rp 22.2K
52.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$0.78 Rp 13.7K
92.31%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$1.29 Rp 22.9K
208.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$7.00 Rp 123.9K
89.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$2.62 Rp 46.4K
205.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$8.03 Rp 142.2K
124.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$2.30 Rp 40.7K
2.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.37 Rp 24.2K
27.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
-2.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$1.45 Rp 25.8K
75.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$1.47 Rp 26.1K
25.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$1.89 Rp 33.5K
11.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$0.85 Rp 15.0K
75.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.41 Rp 7,250
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$2.93 Rp 51.8K
142.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$22.84 Rp 404.5K
-74.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.83 Rp 32.4K
-28.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
-20.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$0.32 Rp 5,678
637.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
615.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$0.34 Rp 6,029
235.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$2.94 Rp 52.1K
481.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
156.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$21.1K Rp 373.6M
61.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$30.5K Rp 540.2M
35.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$70.7 Rp 1.3M
138.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$4.12 Rp 73.0K
369.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$19.28 Rp 341.4K
73.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$19.00 Rp 336.5K
157.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$7.31 Rp 129.4K
165.80%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$2.54 Rp 44.9K
276.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$108 Rp 1.9M
546.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$8,988 Rp 159.1M
93.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$46.17 Rp 817.5K
128.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$31.95 Rp 565.8K
49.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$65.6 Rp 1.2M
53.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$70.6 Rp 1.2M
76.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$214 Rp 3.8M
675.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$166 Rp 2.9M
649.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$598 Rp 10.6M
396.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$326 Rp 5.8M
527.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$1,187 Rp 21.0M
560.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$769 Rp 13.6M
480.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sibolga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
9.46
-60.04%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sibolga: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $214 in Sibolga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $13.00 in Sibolga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $203 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 265% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $629 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 $3,444 in Lisbon and $943 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: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $214 in Sibolga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Sibolga?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $629 in Sibolga – a 265% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $629 in Sibolga versus $2,296 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 265% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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