Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zamboanga

For one person, living is cheaper in Zamboanga: $714 a month against $2,206 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Zamboanga, Philippines
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,206
/mo nomad
Zamboanga
🇵🇭 Philippines
$714
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Zamboanga

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 Zamboanga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,206 in Lisbon versus $714 in Zamboanga.

  • Lisbon $2,206
  • Zamboanga $714

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,273 in Lisbon versus $1,096 in Zamboanga.

  • Lisbon $3,273
  • Zamboanga $1,096

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $1,478 in Zamboanga.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Zamboanga $1,478

Living in Lisbon is roughly 209% more expensive than in Zamboanga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Zamboanga is 48% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.86 €15.06
$1.31 ₱82.7
1187.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.0 €54.5
$16.52 ₱1,047
269.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.98 €9.81
$3.32 ₱210
230.72%
Cappuccino
$3.05 €2.72
$2.05 ₱130
48.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.04
$0.91 ₱57.5
150.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.50
$0.39 ₱24.93
330.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 €3.07
$1.45 ₱91.7
137.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.49
$1.95 ₱123
100.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.03
$1.80 ₱114
-36.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 €1.69
$1.38 ₱87.4
36.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.34
$1.10 ₱69.9
36.36%
Eggs
$4.12 €3.68
$1.44 ₱91.1
186.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 €11.62
$4.69 ₱298
177.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.04 €7.18
$3.88 ₱246
107.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.89 €15.98
$3.13 ₱198
471.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.03
$3.00 ₱190
-24.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.20 ₱75.9
45.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 €1.63
$3.78 ₱240
-51.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 €2.40
$1.15 ₱73.1
133.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.58
$1.18 ₱74.8
50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 €1.73
$2.40 ₱152
-19.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 €1.31
$0.85 ₱53.8
71.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.68
$0.49 ₱31.25
55.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66 €5.95
$2.69 ₱170
147.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.64 €5.04
$4.22 ₱268
33.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.30 ₱82.4
-0.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.91
$1.99 ₱126
7.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.30 €2.06
$0.17 ₱11.04
1252.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.02 €39.32
$12.49 ₱791
252.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 €3.56
$0.74 ₱47.15
437.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 €0.57
$0.22 ₱13.92
190.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.93 €16.90
$1.90 ₱121
896.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$0.97 ₱61.5
135.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4K €29.8K
$20.9K ₱1.3M
59.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €34.4K
$18.6K ₱1.2M
107.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 €141
$118 ₱7,496
33.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.54 €15.67
$15.47 ₱981
13.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.18 €27.85
$47.75 ₱3,027
-34.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.64 €39.88
$35.86 ₱2,273
24.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.98 €16.95
$5.11 ₱324
271.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58 €8.55
$5.02 ₱318
90.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$674 €602
$131 ₱8,285
415.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.7K €16.7K
$7,774 ₱492.7K
140.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.3
$32.15 ₱2,037
217.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.90 €41.00
$19.42 ₱1,231
136.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €91.3
$71.8 ₱4,548
42.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €109
$54.0 ₱3,422
125.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 €1,465
$250 ₱15.8K
556.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 €1,060
$166 ₱10.5K
615.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,825 €2,523
$329 ₱20.8K
759.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,018 €1,803
$353 ₱22.4K
472.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,836 €6,999
$2,668 ₱169.1K
193.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,701 €4,199
$1,111 ₱70.4K
323.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zamboanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,687 €1,507
$191 ₱12.1K
782.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.82
6.92
-44.80%

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

Last update for Lisbon: November 1, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Zamboanga
$166 86% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$275
Zamboanga
$165 40.1% $110
Eating Out
Lisbon
$245
Zamboanga
$61 75% $184
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$207
Zamboanga
$181 12.3% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Zamboanga
$80 52.4% $88
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Zamboanga
$46 28.1% $18
Getting Around
Lisbon
$60
Zamboanga
$15 75.1% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $254 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays about 8.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $16 in Zamboanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $182 per month, with Zamboanga cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇵🇭 Zamboanga
🕒 Local time
11:03 11:03 AM
19:03 7:03 PM
8 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.893 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.38 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 70.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Zamboanga 12,880 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Zamboanga

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 Zamboanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Zamboanga?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,206 in Lisbon and $714 in Zamboanga, so Zamboanga is about 68% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Zamboanga?
Average pay in Lisbon is about 8.5 times higher, 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 Zamboanga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $254 in Zamboanga. 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 Zamboanga?
Childcare runs $668 in Lisbon versus $129 in Zamboanga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $714 in Zamboanga versus $2,206 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zamboanga but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zamboanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zamboanga?
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.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Zamboanga?
Expats usually find Zamboanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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