Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sumba Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sumba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $217 in Sumba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $290 in Sumba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $364 in Sumba.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 966% more expensive than in Sumba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Sumba is 84% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.30 €14.87

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €54.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 €9.79

Cappuccino

$3.19 €2.74

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 €2.10

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 €1.52

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 €3.09

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 €2.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 €1.06

$2.31 FOK 14.87

-46.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 €1.71

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 €1.31

Eggs

$4.04 €3.47

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.54 €11.64

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.39 €7.21

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.25 €15.69

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 €1.97

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 €1.50

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 €1.60

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.26

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 €1.65

Onion (1kg)

$2.09 €1.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 €1.24

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 €0.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.78 €5.83

$10.84 FOK 69.9

-37.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 €4.91

$12.17 FOK 78.5

-53.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.18

$2.40 FOK 15.49

-42.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 €1.91

$1.84 FOK 11.87

20.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 €2.06

$4.64 FOK 29.91

-48.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.22

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.17 €3.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.14 €0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.68 €15.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.32 €2.00

$2.07 FOK 13.34

12.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K €35.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$170 €146

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.34 €16.62

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.64 €28.92

$61.3 FOK 396

-45.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.10 €41.35

$38.73 FOK 250

24.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.90 €17.11

Cinema Ticket

$9.92 €8.53

$15.64 FOK 101

-36.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$717 €617

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.5K €15.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 €40.36

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 €88.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,441

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,093

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,566

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,713

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,728

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,004

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,583 €1,361

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.79

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sumba: August 29, 2026

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 Sumba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Sumba differ by about 966% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $217 including rent). Sumba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $326 in Sumba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 348% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $217 in Sumba – a 966% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $217 in Sumba versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sumba but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sumba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sumba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sumba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 966% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.