🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $500 in Mambajao versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $801 in Mambajao versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,101 in Mambajao versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Mambajao costs roughly 78% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mambajao is 64% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38₱86.5
$17.30€14.93
-92.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.73₱984
$63.3€54.6
-75.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43₱214
$11.39€9.83
-69.89%
Cappuccino
$2.24₱140
$3.19€2.75
-29.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₱25.73
$2.45€2.11
-83.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₱18.36
$1.76€1.52
-83.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99₱61.6
$3.59€3.10
-72.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13₱70.8
$3.39€2.93
-66.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87₱54.2
$1.24€1.07
-29.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61₱38.32
$1.98€1.71
-69.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.70₱43.85
$1.52€1.31
-53.95%
Eggs
$1.21₱76.0
$4.04€3.49
-70.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03₱377
$13.54€11.68
-55.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.08₱255
$8.39€7.24
-51.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.61₱351
$18.25€15.75
-69.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38₱149
$2.29€1.98
3.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65₱103
$1.74€1.50
-5.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55₱160
$1.86€1.60
37.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12₱70.1
$2.63€2.27
-57.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29₱80.8
$1.92€1.65
-32.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78₱111
$2.09€1.81
-14.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74₱46.34
$1.44€1.24
-48.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53₱33.15
$0.84€0.73
-36.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76₱172
$6.78€5.85
-59.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12₱508
$5.71€4.93
42.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98₱61.4
$1.38€1.19
-28.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19₱74.4
$2.22€1.91
-46.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17₱10.84
$2.40€2.07
-92.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.53₱784
$46.78€40.37
-73.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72₱45.18
$4.17€3.60
-82.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.56
$1.14€0.98
-80.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.12₱133
$17.68€15.26
-88.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27₱79.6
$2.32€2.01
-45.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K₱1.2M
$35.3K€30.5K
-43.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K₱1.4M
$41.4K€35.8K
-46.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.2₱3,952
$170€147
-62.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.83₱927
$19.34€16.69
-23.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.82₱1,239
$33.64€29.03
-41.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.74₱2,173
$48.10€41.50
-27.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.23₱327
$19.90€17.17
-73.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.45₱340
$9.92€8.56
-45.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114₱7,152
$717€619
-84.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,918₱557.6K
$17.5K€15.1K
-48.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.41₱1,902
$105€90.4
-70.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.56₱1,160
$46.95€40.51
-60.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.0₱4,624
$103€89.2
-28.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.9₱3,871
$124€107
-50.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$99.9₱6,243
$1,677€1,447
-94.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$55.9₱3,492
$1,271€1,097
-95.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$238₱14.9K
$2,985€2,575
-92.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160₱10.0K
$1,992€1,719
-91.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,782₱174.0K
$7,826€6,753
-64.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,092₱68.3K
$4,658€4,019
-76.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mambajao
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$151₱9,469
$1,583€1,366
-90.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
3.79
78.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mambajao: August 29, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $99.9 in Mambajao and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 945% 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: $16.00 in Mambajao vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $283 per month, with Mambajao 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
Mambajao vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mambajao and in Lisbon?
Mambajao and Lisbon differ by about 363% in total monthly costs ($500 vs $2,316 including rent). Mambajao 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 945% 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 Mambajao and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $99.9 in Mambajao versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mambajao and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $114 in Mambajao versus $717 in Lisbon. 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 82% 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 $500 in Mambajao versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mambajao but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mambajao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mambajao 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 Mambajao or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mambajao 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: Mambajao or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Mambajao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 363% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.