Cost of Living Comparison Between Negombo and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Negombo and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $405 in Negombo versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $656 in Negombo versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $907 in Negombo versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in Negombo costs roughly 83% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Negombo is 71% below, Lisbon is 69% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 LKR 1,422

$17.30 €14.87

-74.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.77 LKR 5,500

$63.3 €54.4

-73.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 LKR 2,564

$11.39 €9.79

-31.34%

Cappuccino

$1.30 LKR 425

$3.19 €2.74

-59.25%

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

$0.68 LKR 223

$2.45 €2.10

-72.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 88.9

$1.76 €1.52

-84.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 721

$3.59 €3.09

-38.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 970

$3.39 €2.92

-12.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 LKR 544

$1.24 €1.06

33.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 173

$1.98 €1.71

-73.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 263

$1.52 €1.31

-47.37%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 539

$4.04 €3.47

-59.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 LKR 4,330

$13.54 €11.64

-2.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 LKR 1,405

$8.39 €7.21

-48.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.17 LKR 2,023

$18.25 €15.69

-66.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 LKR 590

$2.29 €1.97

-21.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 LKR 225

$1.74 €1.50

-60.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 LKR 739

$1.86 €1.60

20.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 380

$2.63 €2.26

-55.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 253

$1.92 €1.65

-59.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 249

$2.09 €1.80

-63.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 LKR 305

$1.44 €1.24

-35.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.84 €0.72

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.53 LKR 3,456

$6.78 €5.83

55.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 LKR 4,446

$5.71 €4.91

137.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 654

$1.38 €1.18

44.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 LKR 889

$2.22 €1.91

22.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 102

$2.40 €2.06

-87.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.78 €40.22

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 136

$4.17 €3.59

-89.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 LKR 113

$1.14 €0.98

-70.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LKR 294

$17.68 €15.20

-94.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 LKR 333

$2.32 €2.00

-56.03%

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

$30.6K LKR 10.0M

$35.3K €30.4K

-13.34%

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

$41.6K LKR 13.7M

$41.4K €35.6K

0.42%

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

$25.89 LKR 8,492

$170 €146

-84.80%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,386

$19.34 €16.62

-78.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.07 LKR 6,911

$33.64 €28.92

-37.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.35 LKR 5,035

$48.10 €41.35

-68.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.07 LKR 2,974

$19.90 €17.11

-54.42%

Cinema Ticket

$2.45 LKR 803

$9.92 €8.53

-75.30%

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

$37.90 LKR 12.4K

$717 €617

-94.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 146.9K

$17.5K €15.0K

-97.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.19 LKR 3,014

$105 €90.1

-91.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.79 LKR 5,509

$46.95 €40.36

-64.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.99 LKR 11.8K

$103 €88.9

-65.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.01 LKR 7,878

$124 €107

-80.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,677 €1,441

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 €1,093

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,985 €2,566

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,992 €1,713

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,826 €6,728

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,658 €4,004

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 LKR 60.1K

$1,583 €1,361

-88.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

3.79

234.83%

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

Last update for Negombo: September 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lisbon pays 764% 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: $17.00 in Negombo vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $283 per month, with Negombo 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

Negombo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Negombo and Lisbon differ by about 472% in total monthly costs ($405 vs $2,316 including rent). Negombo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 764% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $405 per month in Negombo versus $2,316 in Lisbon – a 472% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $405 in Negombo versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Negombo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Negombo 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, Negombo 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 Negombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 472% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.