😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $720 in Siem Reap.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,073 in Siem Reap.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,426 in Siem Reap.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 207% more expensive than Siem Reap, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Siem Reap is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$2.54៛10.2K
526.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$24.11៛96.9K
168.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$6.92៛27.8K
51.88%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.67៛6,719
71.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.69៛2,768
224.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.51៛2,059
194.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$0.98៛3,937
256.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.93៛7,744
101.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.81៛7,271
-37.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.38៛5,546
26.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.03៛4,151
70.87%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.62៛6,496
98.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$13.00៛52.3K
3.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.64៛14.6K
117.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$10.42៛41.9K
52.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$3.65៛14.7K
-36.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.07៛4,315
58.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.43៛13.8K
-41.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.31៛5,277
87.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.24៛4,984
48.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.95៛3,820
110.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.36៛5,471
41.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.67៛2,681
17.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$1.91៛7,662
246.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$7.46៛30.0K
-23.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$0.73៛2,934
87.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.68៛6,740
76.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.01៛4,066
134.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.03៛4,159
316.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.98៛3,954
-16.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$4.60៛18.5K
297.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.08៛4,326
90.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$49.0K៛196.9M
-30.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$37.0K៛148.6M
6.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$73.1៛294.0K
102.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$6.13៛24.7K
234.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$19.40៛78.0K
104.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$36.31៛146.0K
31.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$3.52៛14.2K
437.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$4.46៛17.9K
105.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$375៛1.5M
63.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,917៛19.8M
226.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$22.56៛90.7K
363.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$18.51៛74.4K
127.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$54.1៛217.6K
73.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$36.22៛145.6K
230.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$315៛1.3M
417.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$216៛868.5K
481.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$497៛2.0M
509.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$319៛1.3M
532.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$2,470៛9.9M
215.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$1,106៛4.4M
286.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$239៛959.9K
571.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.2
-58.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Siem Reap: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $315 in Siem Reap. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 572% 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 $24.00 in Siem Reap for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $217 per month, with Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Siem Reap?
Lisbon and Siem Reap differ by about 207% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $720 including rent). Siem Reap is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Siem Reap?
Lisbon pays 572% 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 Siem Reap?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $315 in Siem Reap. 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 24% 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 Siem Reap?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $720 in Siem Reap – a 207% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $720 in Siem Reap versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Siem Reap but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Siem Reap the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Siem Reap?
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 Siem Reap safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap?
Expats usually find Siem Reap gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.