😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $781 in Sorsogon City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,207 in Sorsogon City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,632 in Sorsogon City.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 183% more expensive than Sorsogon City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Sorsogon City is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$3.62₱223
339.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$17.63₱1,087
267.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$3.40₱210
209.12%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.34₱145
22.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.84₱51.5
166.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.37₱22.59
305.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.30₱80.3
168.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.09₱129
85.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.88₱116
-39.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.21₱74.8
44.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.96₱59.1
83.33%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.06₱127
56.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$7.88₱486
71.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.37₱270
81.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$7.70₱475
106.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.86₱176
-19.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.54₱94.9
10.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.59₱160
-22.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.56₱96.5
57.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.30₱142
-20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.52₱156
-20.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.06₱65.4
82.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.75₱46.49
5.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.81₱173
135.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$8.16₱503
-29.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.15₱71.2
19.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.03₱125
46.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.28₱17.42
746.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.78₱47.83
450.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.24₱14.81
241.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$2.18₱134
739.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.11₱68.3
85.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$26.5K₱1.6M
29.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$20.7K₱1.3M
90.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$112₱6,899
32.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$33.23₱2,049
-38.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$27.37₱1,687
44.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$33.72₱2,079
41.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$4.38₱270
331.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$5.99₱369
53.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$150₱9,256
309.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,254₱262.3K
277.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$46.58₱2,873
124.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$26.36₱1,626
59.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$75.6₱4,663
24.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$53.9₱3,321
122.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$266₱16.4K
512.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$180₱11.1K
598.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$587₱36.2K
416.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$401₱24.7K
403.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$2,280₱140.6K
242.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$970₱59.8K
340.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.67
-42.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sorsogon City: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $266 in Sorsogon City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $18.00 in Sorsogon City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $205 per month, with Sorsogon City 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 Sorsogon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sorsogon City?
Lisbon and Sorsogon City differ by about 183% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $781 including rent). Sorsogon City 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 Sorsogon City?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,172 in Sorsogon City 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 Sorsogon City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $266 in Sorsogon City. 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 32% 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 Sorsogon City?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $781 in Sorsogon City – a 183% 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 $781 in Sorsogon City versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sorsogon City but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sorsogon City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sorsogon City?
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 Sorsogon City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sorsogon City 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 Sorsogon City?
Expats usually find Sorsogon City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.