Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $146 in Mwanza versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $218 in Mwanza versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $290 in Mwanza versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Mwanza costs roughly 93% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mwanza is 89% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 TZS 6,605

$15.91 €13.69

-83.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.20 TZS 39.2K

$64.8 €55.7

-76.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.61 TZS 11.9K

$10.51 €9.04

-56.14%

Cappuccino

$2.65 TZS 6,825

$2.87 €2.47

-7.67%

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

$0.30 TZS 784

$2.24 €1.93

-86.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 TZS 781

$1.50 €1.29

-80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 TZS 2,471

$3.49 €3.00

-72.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 TZS 3,443

$3.88 €3.34

-65.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

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

$34.3K €29.5K

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

$39.3K €33.8K

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

$67.5 TZS 174.1K

$148 €127

-54.35%

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

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

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

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 484.7K

$1,603 €1,379

-88.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Mwanza: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 753% 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 at a mid-range restaurant: $15.00 in Mwanza vs $65.0 in Lisbon for two.

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

Mwanza vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mwanza and Lisbon differ by about 1416% in total monthly costs ($146 vs $2,210 including rent). Mwanza is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Lisbon earns 753% less. 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 Mwanza – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $146 per month in Mwanza versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 1416% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $146 in Mwanza versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mwanza but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mwanza 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, Mwanza 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 Mwanza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1416% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.