😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,203 in Suginami-ku.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,949 in Suginami-ku.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,695 in Suginami-ku.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 92% more expensive than in Suginami-ku, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Suginami-ku is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.87
$6.19¥964
179.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$43.65¥6,793
44.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.79
$4.90¥763
132.45%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.74
$3.38¥527
-5.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.04¥161
135.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.80¥124
120.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.45¥381
46.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.22¥500
5.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.38¥214
-10.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.71¥265
15.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$3.71¥577
-59.03%
Eggs
$4.04€3.47
$2.07¥323
95.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.64
$11.61¥1,808
16.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.21
$6.06¥943
38.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.69
$14.43¥2,246
26.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$5.65¥879
-59.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.68¥417
-35.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.82¥439
-34.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$4.24¥660
-37.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.62¥407
-26.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$2.60¥404
-19.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.28¥200
12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.74¥116
13.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$3.67¥571
84.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$6.36¥990
-10.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.73¥269
-20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.06¥321
7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$1.44¥224
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.22
$51.8¥8,057
-9.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$3.18¥496
31.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.43¥378
-53.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.20
$20.03¥3,118
-11.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.05¥163
120.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$21.5K¥3.4M
64.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.6K
$17.9K¥2.8M
131.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€146
$129¥20.1K
31.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.62
$24.39¥3,796
-20.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.92
$31.96¥4,975
5.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.35
$56.5¥8,791
-14.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.11
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.53
$12.62¥1,965
-21.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$633¥98.5K
13.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$14.5K¥2.3M
20.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$60.8¥9,455
72.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.36
$32.25¥5,019
45.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$59.9¥9,317
72.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$100¥15.6K
23.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,441
$469¥73.0K
257.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,093
$298¥46.4K
326.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,566
$1,056¥164.4K
182.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,713
$790¥122.9K
152.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,728
$4,552¥708.4K
71.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,004
$1,860¥289.5K
150.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Suginami-ku
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,361
$2,792¥434.5K
-43.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
2
89.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Suginami-ku: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $469 in Suginami-ku. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Suginami-ku pays 76% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $44.00 in Suginami-ku. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $292, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Suginami-ku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Suginami-ku?
Lisbon and Suginami-ku differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,203 including rent). Suginami-ku is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Suginami-ku. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Suginami-ku?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $469 in Suginami-ku. 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 Suginami-ku?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $633 in Suginami-ku. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,203 in Suginami-ku versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Suginami-ku but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Suginami-ku the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Suginami-ku?
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 Suginami-ku safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Suginami-ku 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 Suginami-ku?
Expats usually find Suginami-ku gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.