🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Palembang versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Palembang versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,404 in Palembang versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Palembang costs roughly 70% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Palembang is 51% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$15.91€13.69
-92.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.59Rp 314.1K
$64.8€55.7
-72.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.14Rp 56.0K
$10.51€9.04
-70.12%
Cappuccino
$1.40Rp 25.0K
$2.87€2.47
-51.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97Rp 17.4K
$2.24€1.93
-56.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,004
$1.50€1.29
-81.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83Rp 32.7K
$3.49€3.00
-47.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59Rp 64.2K
$3.88€3.34
-7.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31Rp 23.4K
$1.14€0.98
14.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$1.75€1.51
-33.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41Rp 25.1K
$1.76€1.51
-19.89%
Eggs
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$3.22€2.77
-62.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.99Rp 142.6K
$13.49€11.61
-40.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13Rp 55.9K
$7.91€6.81
-60.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.70Rp 155.3K
$15.87€13.65
-45.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 42.7K
$2.31€1.99
3.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44Rp 25.7K
$1.70€1.46
-15.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.8K
$2.01€1.73
-5.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.6K
$2.46€2.12
-39.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.84€1.59
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.5K
$2.00€1.72
-3.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.3K
$1.93€1.66
-49.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 8,973
$0.79€0.68
-36.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.6K
$6.61€5.68
-63.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.68Rp 387.2K
$5.72€4.92
279.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.0K
$1.37€1.17
47.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16Rp 56.5K
$2.97€2.56
6.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,466
$2.37€2.04
-80.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.74Rp 173.9K
$45.56€39.19
-78.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,363
$4.29€3.69
-87.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,685
$0.82€0.70
-54.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.96Rp 52.8K
$18.30€15.74
-83.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75Rp 13.4K
$2.06€1.78
-63.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 433.2M
$34.3K€29.5K
-29.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1KRp 502.5M
$39.3K€33.8K
-28.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.8Rp 1.2M
$148€127
-52.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23Rp 75.6K
$20.52€17.65
-79.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.64Rp 422.1K
$39.61€34.08
-40.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.44Rp 418.6K
$47.85€41.16
-51.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 107.1K
$18.92€16.28
-68.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04Rp 54.3K
$9.18€7.90
-66.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.3Rp 1.6M
$614€528
-84.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,546Rp 134.8M
$16.0K€13.8K
-52.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.12Rp 752.2K
$105€90.0
-59.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.14Rp 556.1K
$42.06€36.18
-25.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.4Rp 1.2M
$94.0€80.8
-28.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6Rp 1.3M
$120€103
-38.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$1,628€1,400
-84.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.8M
$1,255€1,080
-87.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.4M
$3,030€2,607
-80.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331Rp 5.9M
$2,020€1,738
-83.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,346Rp 24.0M
$7,800€6,709
-82.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783Rp 14.0M
$4,273€3,675
-81.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palembang
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$309Rp 5.5M
$1,603€1,379
-80.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
3.81
140.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Palembang and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 419% 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: $18.00 in Palembang vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Palembang and Lisbon differ by about 236% in total monthly costs ($657 vs $2,210 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, Lisbon earns 419% less. 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Palembang versus $1,628 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 Palembang and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $92.3 in Palembang versus $614 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 26% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $657 in Palembang versus $2,210 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 236% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.