🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $625 in Palembang versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,007 in Palembang versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,389 in Palembang versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Palembang costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Palembang is 54% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.16Rp 20.5K
$17.59€15.33
-93.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.43Rp 290.9K
$62.9€54.8
-73.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.75Rp 48.6K
$11.58€10.10
-76.25%
Cappuccino
$1.29Rp 22.9K
$3.10€2.70
-58.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84Rp 14.9K
$2.49€2.17
-66.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,340
$1.74€1.52
-85.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73Rp 30.6K
$3.48€3.03
-50.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35Rp 59.4K
$3.44€3.00
-2.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.0K
$1.15€1.00
-1.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.5K
$1.91€1.66
-42.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84Rp 14.8K
$1.50€1.31
-44.00%
Eggs
$1.29Rp 22.9K
$3.98€3.47
-67.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.39Rp 130.8K
$13.29€11.59
-44.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.92Rp 51.7K
$8.01€6.98
-63.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.61Rp 134.7K
$18.04€15.73
-57.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19Rp 38.8K
$2.35€2.05
-6.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.7K
$1.75€1.53
-33.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97Rp 34.9K
$1.85€1.62
6.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39Rp 24.6K
$2.55€2.22
-45.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40Rp 24.9K
$1.84€1.61
-23.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.1K
$2.10€1.83
5.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75Rp 13.3K
$1.49€1.30
-49.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,239
$0.82€0.71
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22Rp 39.4K
$7.10€6.19
-68.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.38Rp 360.9K
$5.91€5.15
244.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84Rp 32.6K
$1.31€1.15
40.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02Rp 53.5K
$2.13€1.86
41.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45Rp 7,968
$2.36€2.05
-80.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.63
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,459
$4.08€3.55
-87.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,494
$1.14€0.99
-72.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 48.2K
$17.09€14.90
-84.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.4K
$2.31€2.01
-67.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KRp 403.9M
$34.1K€29.7K
-33.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KRp 538.9M
$41.4K€36.1K
-26.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.9Rp 1.2M
$169€147
-59.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52Rp 80.1K
$19.33€16.85
-76.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.12Rp 338.6K
$33.51€29.21
-42.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.87Rp 351.9K
$48.84€42.57
-59.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.34Rp 129.9K
$19.43€16.94
-62.22%
Cinema Ticket
$2.76Rp 48.9K
$9.57€8.34
-71.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.1Rp 1.7M
$696€607
-86.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,938Rp 122.8M
$17.4K€15.1K
-60.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.91Rp 777.4K
$105€91.8
-58.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.03Rp 514.0K
$47.75€41.62
-39.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.1Rp 1.3M
$101€87.6
-27.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9Rp 1.3M
$124€108
-41.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234Rp 4.2M
$1,662€1,449
-85.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$1,246€1,086
-87.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$539Rp 9.5M
$2,965€2,584
-81.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422Rp 7.5M
$2,049€1,786
-79.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,249Rp 22.1M
$7,834€6,829
-84.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$739Rp 13.1M
$4,464€3,892
-83.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$312Rp 5.5M
$1,632€1,422
-80.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
3.78
150.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Palembang: September 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Palembang and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 424% 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 Palembang vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $277 per month, with Palembang 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
Palembang vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Palembang and in Lisbon?
Palembang and Lisbon differ by about 267% in total monthly costs ($625 vs $2,296 including rent). Palembang 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 424% 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 Palembang and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Palembang versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Palembang or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $625 per month in Palembang versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 267% 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 $625 in Palembang versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Palembang 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 Palembang or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Palembang 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: Palembang or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 267% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.