🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $463 in Maharagama versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $796 in Maharagama versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,130 in Maharagama versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Maharagama costs roughly 80% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maharagama is 66% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$15.94€13.73
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$63.4€54.6
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.38€8.95
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.79€2.40
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.34€2.01
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.57€1.35
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.43€2.95
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.91€3.37
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87LKR 623
$1.08€0.93
73.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52LKR 173
$1.77€1.52
-70.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78LKR 262
$1.71€1.47
-54.39%
Eggs
$2.11LKR 704
$3.15€2.71
-33.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.26LKR 5,423
$13.68€11.79
18.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.96LKR 1,987
$8.01€6.90
-25.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99LKR 3,667
$15.52€13.37
-29.19%
Apples(1kg)
$11.75LKR 3,920
$2.29€1.98
413.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24LKR 415
$1.64€1.41
-24.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$10.12LKR 3,376
$1.94€1.67
421.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.82LKR 608
$2.51€2.17
-27.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19LKR 396
$1.79€1.54
-33.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16LKR 388
$2.01€1.73
-42.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56LKR 520
$1.97€1.69
-20.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58LKR 192
$0.84€0.73
-30.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.69LKR 3,233
$6.79€5.85
42.71%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.67€4.89
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06LKR 688
$1.39€1.20
48.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16LKR 1,055
$3.02€2.60
4.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.27€1.95
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.37LKR 1,125
$45.44€39.15
-92.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32LKR 106
$4.29€3.70
-92.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29LKR 96.7
$0.85€0.73
-65.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$18.28€15.75
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37LKR 459
$1.99€1.71
-31.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.0K€30.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$39.5K€34.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.2LKR 18.1K
$146€126
-62.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.30LKR 1,101
$20.45€17.62
-83.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.75LKR 4,254
$38.98€33.58
-67.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.52LKR 4,510
$48.98€42.21
-72.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.83€16.22
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.04LKR 1,680
$9.52€8.21
-47.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$67.7LKR 22.6K
$608€524
-88.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$504LKR 168.0K
$16.5K€14.2K
-96.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.76LKR 8,258
$104€89.5
-76.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.58LKR 4,529
$42.12€36.29
-67.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.8LKR 18.6K
$92.2€79.5
-39.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.4LKR 19.2K
$120€103
-52.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,621€1,397
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,268€1,092
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167LKR 55.8K
$3,048€2,626
-94.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$119LKR 39.5K
$2,009€1,731
-94.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,663€6,602
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,329€3,730
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maharagama
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,585€1,366
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
3.81
346.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maharagama: June 6, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
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
Maharagama vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maharagama and Lisbon?
Maharagama and Lisbon differ by about 389% in total monthly costs ($463 vs $2,263 including rent). Maharagama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Maharagama compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $694 in Maharagama and $3,394 in Lisbon 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maharagama or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $463 per month in Maharagama versus $2,263 in Lisbon – a 389% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $463 in Maharagama versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maharagama but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Maharagama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maharagama 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 Maharagama or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maharagama 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: Maharagama or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Maharagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 389% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Maharagama vs other spots: cost of living compared