😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,344 in Wakayama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,118 in Wakayama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,893 in Wakayama.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 64% more expensive than Wakayama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Wakayama0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$6.98¥1,116
127.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$35.10¥5,614
84.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$6.27¥1,003
67.62%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.07¥491
-6.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.19¥191
88.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.76¥122
97.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$3.38¥541
3.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.06¥329
88.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.69¥270
-32.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.80¥288
-2.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$5.10¥817
-65.49%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.55¥408
26.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$17.23¥2,756
-21.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$7.43¥1,189
6.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$15.25¥2,439
4.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$8.90¥1,424
-74.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.80¥448
-39.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$4.88¥781
-58.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$9.57¥1,531
-74.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$3.99¥638
-53.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.61¥417
-23.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.34¥214
44.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.40¥224
-43.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$3.46¥553
91.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$9.17¥1,467
-37.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.86¥458
-52.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.27¥363
30.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.66¥266
42.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$55.0¥8,800
-17.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$3.43¥548
25.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.95¥472
-72.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$17.57¥2,810
4.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.24¥198
66.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$23.1K¥3.7M
48.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$16.9K¥2.7M
131.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$138¥22.1K
6.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$26.81¥4,289
-23.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$34.21¥5,472
15.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$55.9¥8,938
-14.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$13.65¥2,183
38.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$12.47¥1,994
-26.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$474¥75.8K
29.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$11.3K¥1.8M
41.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$46.82¥7,488
123.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$32.66¥5,224
28.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$55.8¥8,929
68.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$91.1¥14.6K
31.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$462¥73.9K
252.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$325¥52.0K
285.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$859¥137.4K
252.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$652¥104.3K
209.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$4,458¥713.1K
74.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$2,039¥326.2K
109.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Wakayama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$3,832¥612.9K
-58.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
1.67
128.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Wakayama: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $462 in Wakayama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wakayama pays 139% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $35.00 in Wakayama. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $405, 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 Wakayama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Wakayama?
Lisbon and Wakayama differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,344 including rent). Wakayama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Wakayama earns 139% less. 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 Wakayama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $462 in Wakayama. 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 Wakayama?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $474 in Wakayama. 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 50% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,344 in Wakayama versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Wakayama but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Wakayama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Wakayama?
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 Wakayama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Wakayama 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 Wakayama?
Expats usually find Wakayama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.