Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Surabaya

For one person, living is cheaper in Surabaya: $674 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Surabaya
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$674
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Surabaya

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Surabaya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $674 in Surabaya.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Surabaya $674

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $1,173 in Surabaya.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Surabaya $1,173

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $1,672 in Surabaya.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Surabaya $1,672

Living in Lisbon is roughly 227% more expensive than in Surabaya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Surabaya is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$1.63 Rp 29.3K
945.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$11.26 Rp 202.7K
453.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$3.14 Rp 56.5K
250.96%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$0.55 Rp 9,867
312.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$0.26 Rp 4,619
569.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$2.16 Rp 38.9K
58.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$4.14 Rp 74.5K
-9.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.25 Rp 22.5K
-6.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.27 Rp 22.9K
46.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
85.54%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
244.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$7.75 Rp 139.4K
66.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$3.08 Rp 55.5K
156.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$7.75 Rp 139.4K
127.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$2.02 Rp 36.3K
11.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
35.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$1.89 Rp 34.0K
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
71.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
36.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$1.90 Rp 34.2K
3.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
62.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$0.39 Rp 7,029
97.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
238.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$25.14 Rp 452.5K
-77.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.74 Rp 31.3K
-21.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$2.83 Rp 50.9K
-25.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$0.35 Rp 6,237
562.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$0.46 Rp 8,282
758.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$0.42 Rp 7,542
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$2.58 Rp 46.4K
564.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
148.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$24.6K Rp 443.1M
37.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$32.3K Rp 581.0M
18.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$87.3 Rp 1.6M
87.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$4.57 Rp 82.2K
304.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$19.05 Rp 342.9K
73.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$17.92 Rp 322.6K
155.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
$6.66 Rp 119.9K
180.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$2.64 Rp 47.5K
269.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$277 Rp 5.0M
146.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$9,324 Rp 167.8M
89.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
46.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$38.58 Rp 694.4K
19.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
23.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$75.1 Rp 1.4M
66.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$282 Rp 5.1M
462.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$144 Rp 2.6M
710.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$1,238 Rp 22.3M
130.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$601 Rp 10.8M
231.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$2,161 Rp 38.9M
260.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$1,072 Rp 19.3M
312.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$271 Rp 4.9M
491.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
7.5
-48.67%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Surabaya
$144 87.7% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Surabaya
$209 23.6% $64
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Surabaya
$63 74.4% $184
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Surabaya
$111 48.5% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Surabaya
$119 29.1% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Surabaya
$23 64.5% $42
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Surabaya
$3.9 * 93.7% $59

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $282 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 491% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $11.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $209 per month, with Surabaya cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇮🇩 Surabaya
🕒 Local time
14:19 2:19 PM
20:19 8:19 PM
6 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
2,765,487
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Surabaya 13,250 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Surabaya

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Surabaya?
Lisbon and Surabaya differ by about 227% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $674 including rent). Surabaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Surabaya?
Average pay runs 491% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Surabaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $282 in Surabaya. 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 31% 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 Surabaya?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $674 in Surabaya – a 227% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $674 in Surabaya versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Surabaya but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Surabaya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Surabaya?
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 Surabaya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Surabaya 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 Surabaya?
Expats usually find Surabaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 227% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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