😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $723 in Sorsogon City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,104 in Sorsogon City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $1,486 in Sorsogon City.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 221% more expensive than in Sorsogon City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Sorsogon City is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.87
$3.82₱239
352.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$14.72₱921
329.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.79
$2.77₱173
311.19%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.74
$2.23₱140
43.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$0.62₱38.80
295.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.32₱19.82
450.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$1.07₱66.7
235.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$1.91₱119
77.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.68₱105
-26.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.15₱71.9
72.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$0.92₱57.7
65.22%
Eggs
$4.04€3.47
$1.98₱124
104.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.64
$4.78₱299
183.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.21
$4.06₱254
106.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.69
$7.09₱443
157.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.69₱168
-14.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.61₱101
8.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.52₱158
-26.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$1.18₱73.8
122.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.00₱125
-4.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.81₱113
15.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.73₱45.60
97.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.52₱32.39
61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$2.97₱186
128.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$8.19₱512
-30.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$0.93₱58.3
48.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.02₱126
9.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.23₱14.56
943.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.22
$9.87₱617
373.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$0.82₱51.4
408.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.25₱15.53
356.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.20
$1.97₱123
797.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.31₱81.7
77.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$22.0K₱1.4M
60.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.6K
$17.8K₱1.1M
132.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€146
$134₱8,391
26.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.62
$16.74₱1,047
15.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.92
$24.64₱1,541
36.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.35
$28.25₱1,767
70.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.11
$4.42₱276
350.23%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.53
$5.20₱325
90.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$121₱7,555
493.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$8,583₱536.8K
103.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$36.66₱2,293
185.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.36
$20.37₱1,274
130.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$79.0₱4,939
30.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$49.76₱3,112
149.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,441
$251₱15.7K
568.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,093
$150₱9,373
748.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,566
$481₱30.1K
520.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,713
$377₱23.6K
428.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,728
$2,434₱152.2K
221.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,004
$1,106₱69.2K
321.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sorsogon City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,361
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
6.75
-43.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sorsogon City: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $251 in Sorsogon City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $15.00 in Sorsogon City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $179 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 in Sorsogon City?
Lisbon and Sorsogon City differ by about 221% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $723 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 $3,474 in Lisbon and $1,084 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 in Sorsogon City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $251 in Sorsogon City. 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 Sorsogon City?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $121 in Sorsogon City. 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 58% 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 $723 in Sorsogon City versus $2,316 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 221% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.