Cost of Living Comparison Between Lubumbashi and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Lubumbashi and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,094 in Lubumbashi versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,546 in Lubumbashi versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,999 in Lubumbashi versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Lubumbashi costs roughly 52% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lubumbashi is 18% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.29 CDF 27.7K
$16.19 €14.17
-24.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 CDF 228.6K
$63.3 €55.4
60.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 CDF 22.7K
$10.32 €9.03
-2.33%
Cappuccino
$4.09 CDF 9,196
$2.83 €2.48
44.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 CDF 2,224
$2.29 €2.00
-56.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 €1.38
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 CDF 4,020
$3.40 €2.98
-47.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 CDF 5,501
$4.03 €3.52
-39.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 CDF 4,581
$1.09 €0.95
87.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 CDF 2,577
$1.75 €1.53
-34.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.03 CDF 6,830
$1.76 €1.54
72.16%
Eggs
$2.63 CDF 5,911
$3.17 €2.77
-17.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.26 CDF 34.3K
$13.19 €11.54
15.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.31 CDF 16.4K
$7.97 €6.97
-8.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.21 CDF 34.2K
$15.53 €13.59
-2.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 CDF 4,613
$2.37 €2.07
-13.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.92 CDF 6,573
$1.71 €1.49
70.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.03 CDF 11.3K
$2.01 €1.76
150.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 CDF 6,695
$2.43 €2.13
22.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 CDF 5,794
$1.76 €1.54
46.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 CDF 4,366
$2.03 €1.78
-4.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 CDF 2,306
$1.92 €1.68
-46.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 CDF 2,785
$0.85 €0.74
45.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.92 CDF 8,825
$6.58 €5.76
-40.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.73 CDF 28.7K
$5.58 €4.88
128.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 CDF 2,557
$1.33 €1.17
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CDF 4,665
$2.97 €2.60
-30.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 CDF 2,314
$2.28 €1.99
-54.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.79 €40.06
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 CDF 10.4K
$4.23 €3.70
9.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.81 €0.71
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.96 CDF 22.4K
$18.44 €16.13
-45.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 CDF 3,044
$2.08 €1.82
-35.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CDF 56.7M
$34.7K €30.3K
-27.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K CDF 68.3M
$39.2K €34.3K
-22.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 CDF 228.5K
$148 €130
-31.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.84 CDF 44.6K
$20.46 €17.90
-3.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.7 CDF 136.6K
$39.56 €34.61
53.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.6 CDF 163.3K
$47.99 €41.99
51.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60 €16.27
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.22 €8.07
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$132 CDF 297.7K
$616 €539
-78.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,420 CDF 9.9M
$16.4K €14.4K
-73.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.87 CDF 51.5K
$103 €89.9
-77.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.64 CDF 51.0K
$41.74 €36.52
-45.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.0 CDF 135.1K
$94.8 €82.9
-36.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2 CDF 189.4K
$122 €107
-31.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$773 CDF 1.7M
$1,633 €1,428
-52.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$251 CDF 565.2K
$1,232 €1,078
-79.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,921 CDF 6.6M
$3,098 €2,711
-5.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,773 CDF 4.0M
$2,031 €1,777
-12.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,013 CDF 2.3M
$7,831 €6,851
-87.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$501 CDF 1.1M
$4,389 €3,840
-88.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,072 CDF 2.4M
$1,607 €1,406
-33.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
3.81
-

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

Last update for Lubumbashi: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $773 in Lubumbashi and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 50% 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: $102 in Lubumbashi vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $311 vs $267 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
Lubumbashi vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lubumbashi and in Lisbon?
Lubumbashi and Lisbon differ by about 109% in total monthly costs ($1,094 vs $2,291 including rent). Lubumbashi 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 50% lower in Lisbon. 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 Lubumbashi and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $773 in Lubumbashi versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lubumbashi or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,094 per month in Lubumbashi versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 109% 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 $1,094 in Lubumbashi versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lubumbashi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lubumbashi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lubumbashi and Lisbon?
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 Lubumbashi or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lubumbashi and Lisbon 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: Lubumbashi or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lubumbashi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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