😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $812 in Songkhla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,277 in Songkhla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,743 in Songkhla.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 172% more expensive than Songkhla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Songkhla is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$1.65฿53.8
864.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$18.35฿599
252.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$3.36฿110
212.80%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.46฿47.69
96.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.68฿22.36
229.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.35฿11.28
328.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.20฿71.8
58.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.42฿112
13.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.58฿51.7
-27.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.89฿28.99
96.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.12฿69.2
-16.98%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.63฿53.2
97.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$16.33฿533
-17.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$2.70฿88.1
192.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$10.46฿342
51.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.52฿82.3
-8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.81฿59.2
-6.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.25฿40.78
60.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.30฿42.41
89.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.57฿51.3
17.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.77฿57.8
12.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.51฿49.16
27.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.91฿29.76
-13.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$4.41฿144
49.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$13.62฿445
-58.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.60฿52.4
-14.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$4.69฿153
-36.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.88฿28.61
169.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$61.8฿2,017
-26.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.27฿41.36
237.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.75฿24.47
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$9.27฿303
97.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.35฿43.97
52.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$28.2K฿920.6K
21.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$36.5K฿1.2M
7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$89.4฿2,918
65.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$12.76฿417
60.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$18.48฿604
114.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$49.83฿1,627
-3.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$1.81฿59.0
945.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$5.43฿177
69.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$123฿4,030
397.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$9,497฿310.2K
68.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$31.34฿1,024
233.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$34.98฿1,142
20.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$99.4฿3,246
-5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$21.75฿711
450.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$277฿9,032
488.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$180฿5,889
596.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$594฿19.4K
410.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$426฿13.9K
374.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$1,766฿57.7K
341.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$1,319฿43.1K
223.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Songkhla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$829฿27.1K
93.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
9.33
-59.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Songkhla: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $277 in Songkhla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 93% 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 $18.00 in Songkhla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $238 per month, with Songkhla 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 Songkhla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Songkhla?
Lisbon and Songkhla differ by about 172% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $812 including rent). Songkhla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Songkhla?
Lisbon pays 93% 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 Songkhla?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $277 in Songkhla. 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 Songkhla?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $123 in Songkhla. 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 13% 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 $812 in Songkhla versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Songkhla but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Songkhla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Songkhla?
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 Songkhla safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Songkhla 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 Songkhla?
Expats usually find Songkhla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.