Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Whakatane Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Whakatane

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,832 in Whakatane.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,798 in Whakatane.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $3,763 in Whakatane.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 24% more expensive than in Whakatane, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Whakatane 38% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.64
$15.32 NZ$25.96
2.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.0
$72.7 NZ$123
-12.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.05
$9.28 NZ$15.72
12.61%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.52
$3.45 NZ$5.84
-15.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.98
$2.25 NZ$3.82
1.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$2.30 NZ$3.90
-34.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.09
$6.75 NZ$11.45
-47.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.43
$6.77 NZ$11.48
-41.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.81 NZ$3.07
-40.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.00 NZ$1.70
76.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$1.95 NZ$3.30
-12.82%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.81
$5.82 NZ$9.86
-44.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.47
$7.47 NZ$12.66
77.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.67
$9.47 NZ$16.05
-18.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.66
$12.93 NZ$21.91
21.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.64 NZ$4.47
-13.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$2.22 NZ$3.76
-25.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$3.37 NZ$5.70
-40.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.14
$4.00 NZ$6.78
-38.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$1.99 NZ$3.38
-10.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.79
$1.65 NZ$2.80
25.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.71
$1.88 NZ$3.18
4.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.72
$1.18 NZ$2.00
-29.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.68
$24.83 NZ$42.09
-73.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.82
$8.81 NZ$14.93
-36.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$1.53 NZ$2.60
-13.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.60
$1.24 NZ$2.11
142.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$2.16 NZ$3.67
5.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.14
$65.3 NZ$111
-28.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.66
$2.12 NZ$3.59
99.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.98 NZ$3.35
-57.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.31
$35.57 NZ$60.3
-47.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.69 NZ$2.86
19.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.3K
$28.9K NZ$49.0K
21.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.3K
$9,632 NZ$16.3K
311.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$125 NZ$212
18.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.77
$30.71 NZ$52.1
-33.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.23
$48.10 NZ$81.5
-17.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €41.72
$37.26 NZ$63.2
29.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €15.92
$11.92 NZ$20.20
54.28%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.88
$9.00 NZ$15.26
1.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €532
$892 NZ$1,512
-31.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.1K
$13.8K NZ$23.4K
17.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.0
$69.5 NZ$118
46.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.45
$44.58 NZ$75.6
-5.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €79.9
$90.6 NZ$154
1.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$127 NZ$215
-3.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,396
$957 NZ$1,623
68.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,086
$779 NZ$1,321
60.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,658
$1,578 NZ$2,675
94.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,764
$1,452 NZ$2,462
40.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,712
$4,759 NZ$8,068
62.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,712
$3,327 NZ$5,639
28.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Whakatane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,387
$4,090 NZ$6,933
-60.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
6.37
-40.19%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Whakatane: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $957 in Whakatane. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Whakatane pays 155% 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 $73.0 in Whakatane for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $286 per month, with Lisbon 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 Whakatane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Whakatane?
Lisbon and Whakatane differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,832 including rent). Whakatane 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 155% lower in Whakatane. 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 Whakatane?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $957 in Whakatane. 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 Whakatane?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $892 in Whakatane. 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 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,832 in Whakatane versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Whakatane but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Whakatane the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Whakatane?
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 Whakatane safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Whakatane 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 Whakatane?
Expats usually find Whakatane gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities