😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $733 in Weligama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $912 in Weligama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,091 in Weligama.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 201% more expensive than Weligama, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Weligama is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$4.00LKR 1,326
297.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$13.21LKR 4,379
390.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$6.03LKR 1,999
74.30%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.71LKR 899
5.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.68LKR 225
229.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.37LKR 123
305.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.38LKR 790
46.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$3.28LKR 1,088
18.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.65LKR 545
-30.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.34LKR 113
414.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.85LKR 283
107.06%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.20LKR 729
46.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$14.25LKR 4,725
-5.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.71LKR 1,563
67.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$7.85LKR 2,602
102.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$7.56LKR 2,508
-69.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.75LKR 249
126.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$5.64LKR 1,871
-64.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.20LKR 397
105.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.15LKR 380
60.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.45LKR 149
344.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.14LKR 376
69.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.60LKR 199
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$10.00LKR 3,315
-33.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$12.63LKR 4,188
-54.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.01LKR 666
-31.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.97LKR 986
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.39LKR 129
1000.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.32LKR 107
156.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$0.57LKR 188
3110.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.20LKR 399
71.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$26.4KLKR 8.8M
29.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$35.4KLKR 11.7M
10.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$60.0LKR 19.9K
146.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$3.33LKR 1,106
516.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$14.84LKR 4,922
166.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$3.41LKR 1,131
169.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$36.21LKR 12.0K
1595.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$443LKR 146.9K
3521.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$27.35LKR 9,070
282.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$19.25LKR 6,382
118.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$68.5LKR 22.7K
37.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$39.51LKR 13.1K
202.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$220LKR 72.9K
470.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Weligama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
16.45
-76.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Weligama: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $13.00 in Weligama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $250 per month, with Weligama 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 Weligama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Weligama?
Lisbon and Weligama differ by about 201% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $733 including rent). Weligama 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 Weligama?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,100 in Weligama 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% 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 Weligama?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $733 in Weligama – a 201% 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 $733 in Weligama versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Weligama but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Weligama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Weligama?
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 Weligama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Weligama 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 Weligama?
Expats usually find Weligama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 201% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.