😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $794 in Siem Reap.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $1,224 in Siem Reap.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $1,655 in Siem Reap.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 186% more expensive than in Siem Reap, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Siem Reap is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.19
$2.52៛10.2K
596.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.8
$24.06៛97.3K
168.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.08
$8.13៛32.9K
43.30%
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.82
$1.72៛6,943
89.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.71៛2,890
250.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.45
$0.43៛1,727
288.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€3.01
$1.02៛4,134
240.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.10
$1.98៛7,997
80.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.03
$2.13៛8,618
-44.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.69
$1.76៛7,117
10.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.08៛4,358
44.44%
Eggs
$4.01€3.47
$1.71៛6,905
134.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.49
$14.05៛56.8K
-5.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.29
$2.63៛10.6K
220.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.78
$9.79៛39.6K
86.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.01
$4.15៛16.8K
-44.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.50
$1.26៛5,109
37.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$3.66៛14.8K
-47.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.28
$1.10៛4,453
140.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.27៛5,127
49.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.83
$1.08៛4,379
95.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.25
$1.35៛5,447
6.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.77៛3,125
3.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.07
$1.46៛5,907
380.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.13
$7.27៛29.4K
-18.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
$1.00៛4,033
36.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.86
$2.21៛8,955
-2.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.06
$1.02៛4,141
133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€40.02
$15.03៛60.8K
207.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.63
$2.02៛8,164
107.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$0.99៛3,997
11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.94
$5.03៛20.3K
243.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.95
$1.28៛5,180
75.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.8K
$25.0K៛101.1M
37.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€36.0K
$22.9K៛92.6M
81.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€148
$107៛431.5K
60.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.45
$6.03៛24.4K
215.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.68
$14.42៛58.4K
137.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.98
$34.68៛140.3K
43.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.89
$13.92៛56.3K
40.16%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.74
$5.07៛20.5K
99.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€605
$280៛1.1M
149.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.4K
$4,476៛18.1M
296.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.6
$26.20៛106.0K
299.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.53
$13.36៛54.1K
259.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.2
$70.5៛285.2K
44.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$44.02៛178.1K
191.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,438
$333៛1.3M
399.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,063
$234៛946.9K
424.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,524
$684៛2.8M
326.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,752
$434៛1.8M
366.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,037
$2,498៛10.1M
225.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€4,013
$1,092៛4.4M
324.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Siem Reap
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,402
$233៛943.1K
594.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
9.2
-58.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Siem Reap: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $333 in Siem Reap. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 595% 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $24.00 in Siem Reap for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $228 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 in Siem Reap?
Lisbon and Siem Reap differ by about 186% in total monthly costs ($2,268 vs $794 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?
Average pay runs 595% 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 Siem Reap?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $333 in Siem Reap. 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 Siem Reap?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $280 in Siem Reap. 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 24% 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 $794 in Siem Reap versus $2,268 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 186% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.