🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,117 in Lubumbashi versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,556 in Lubumbashi versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,995 in Lubumbashi versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Lubumbashi costs roughly 49% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lubumbashi is 17% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.46CDF 28.3K
$15.91€13.69
-21.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.3CDF 223.2K
$64.8€55.7
51.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91CDF 22.5K
$10.51€9.04
-5.71%
Cappuccino
$3.98CDF 9,031
$2.87€2.47
38.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97CDF 2,209
$2.24€1.93
-56.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.50€1.29
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.77CDF 4,012
$3.49€3.00
-49.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47CDF 5,600
$3.88€3.34
-36.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.01CDF 4,570
$1.14€0.98
76.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15CDF 2,618
$1.75€1.51
-34.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92CDF 6,628
$1.76€1.51
65.91%
Eggs
$2.63CDF 5,972
$3.22€2.77
-18.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.22CDF 34.5K
$13.49€11.61
12.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.35CDF 16.7K
$7.91€6.81
-7.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.54CDF 35.3K
$15.87€13.65
-2.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01CDF 4,573
$2.31€1.99
-12.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.95CDF 6,687
$1.70€1.46
73.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.11CDF 11.6K
$2.01€1.73
154.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94CDF 6,677
$2.46€2.12
19.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46CDF 5,581
$1.84€1.59
33.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95CDF 4,431
$2.00€1.72
-2.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99CDF 2,244
$1.93€1.66
-48.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27CDF 2,881
$0.79€0.68
60.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03CDF 9,146
$6.61€5.68
-39.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68CDF 28.8K
$5.72€4.92
121.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20CDF 2,730
$1.37€1.17
-12.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08CDF 4,724
$2.97€2.56
-29.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98CDF 2,233
$2.37€2.04
-58.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46CDF 10.1K
$4.29€3.69
3.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.82€0.70
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.82CDF 22.3K
$18.30€15.74
-46.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36CDF 3,084
$2.06€1.78
-33.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KCDF 56.1M
$34.3K€29.5K
-27.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KCDF 66.9M
$39.3K€33.8K
-25.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.9CDF 224.5K
$148€127
-33.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.35CDF 46.2K
$20.52€17.65
-0.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4CDF 134.8K
$39.61€34.08
49.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$72.2CDF 164.0K
$47.85€41.16
50.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.18€7.90
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$132CDF 299.9K
$614€528
-78.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,465CDF 10.1M
$16.0K€13.8K
-72.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.38CDF 50.8K
$105€90.0
-78.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.32CDF 50.7K
$42.06€36.18
-46.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.5CDF 137.3K
$94.0€80.8
-35.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3CDF 191.4K
$120€103
-29.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764CDF 1.7M
$1,628€1,400
-53.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249CDF 565.0K
$1,255€1,080
-80.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,858CDF 6.5M
$3,030€2,607
-5.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,813CDF 4.1M
$2,020€1,738
-10.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$988CDF 2.2M
$7,800€6,709
-87.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$502CDF 1.1M
$4,273€3,675
-88.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lubumbashi
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,068CDF 2.4M
$1,603€1,379
-33.37%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Lubumbashi and $1,628 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: $98.0 in Lubumbashi vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Lubumbashi and Lisbon differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($1,117 vs $2,210 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, Lisbon earns 50% 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 Lubumbashi and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $764 in Lubumbashi versus $1,628 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 $1,117 per month in Lubumbashi versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 98% 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 $1,117 in Lubumbashi versus $2,210 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 98% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lubumbashi vs other spots: cost of living compared