Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $132 in Maharagama versus $2,296 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $246 in Maharagama versus $3,376 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $360 in Maharagama versus $4,457 in Lisbon.

Living in Maharagama costs roughly 94% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Maharagama is 90% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.20 LKR 1,719

$17.59 €15.31

-70.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.09 LKR 6,642

$62.9 €54.7

-68.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 LKR 2,321

$11.58 €10.08

-39.38%

Cappuccino

$2.13 LKR 705

$3.10 €2.70

-31.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 201

$2.49 €2.17

-75.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 LKR 94.3

$1.74 €1.52

-83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 €3.03

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 €3.00

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 LKR 297

$1.15 €1.00

-21.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 LKR 82.7

$1.91 €1.66

-86.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.51 LKR 168

$1.50 €1.31

-66.00%

Eggs

$1.44 LKR 476

$3.98 €3.47

-63.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 €11.57

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.01 €6.97

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.04 €15.70

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 €2.05

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 €1.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 €1.61

Tomato (1kg)

$2.55 €2.22

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.60

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 €1.83

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 €1.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 €0.71

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.10 €6.18

Wine (Bottle)

$5.91 €5.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 €1.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 €1.86

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 €2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.62 €40.57

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 LKR 148

$4.08 €3.55

-88.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 159

$1.14 €0.99

-57.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.09 €14.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.31 €2.01

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K €29.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K €36.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$169 €147

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.69 LKR 1,549

$19.33 €16.83

-75.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 LKR 4,587

$33.51 €29.17

-58.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.84 €42.51

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 €16.92

Cinema Ticket

$9.57 €8.33

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$696 €606

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K €15.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €91.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.75 €41.56

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 €87.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 €108

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 €1,446

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 €1,085

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 LKR 66.1K

$2,965 €2,580

-93.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 €1,783

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,834 €6,819

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,464 €3,886

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 81.9K

$1,632 €1,420

-84.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.78

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

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 559% 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: $20.00 in Maharagama vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $19.00 vs $277 per month, with Maharagama 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

Maharagama vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maharagama and Lisbon differ by about 1643% in total monthly costs ($132 vs $2,296 including rent). Maharagama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 559% 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Maharagama – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $132 per month in Maharagama versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 1643% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $132 in Maharagama versus $2,296 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Maharagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1643% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.