Cost of Living Comparison Between Pekanbaru and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Pekanbaru and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Pekanbaru versus $2,316 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Pekanbaru versus $3,361 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Pekanbaru versus $4,405 in Lisbon.

Living in Pekanbaru costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pekanbaru is 54% below, Lisbon is 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.42 Rp 25.3K
$17.30 €14.93
-91.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.31 Rp 147.7K
$63.3 €54.6
-86.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.23 Rp 39.7K
$11.39 €9.83
-80.42%
Cappuccino
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
$3.19 €2.75
-60.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,533
$2.45 €2.11
-82.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 Rp 3,889
$1.76 €1.52
-87.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 Rp 34.9K
$3.59 €3.10
-45.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 Rp 53.7K
$3.39 €2.93
-10.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 Rp 23.5K
$1.24 €1.07
6.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 Rp 20.6K
$1.98 €1.71
-41.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 Rp 14.7K
$1.52 €1.31
-45.39%
Eggs
$1.72 Rp 30.5K
$4.04 €3.49
-57.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.24 Rp 128.7K
$13.54 €11.68
-46.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.50 Rp 44.4K
$8.39 €7.24
-70.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.75 Rp 119.9K
$18.25 €15.75
-63.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
$2.29 €1.98
15.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 Rp 29.6K
$1.74 €1.50
-4.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 42.3K
$1.86 €1.60
27.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.6K
$2.63 €2.27
-51.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 23.2K
$1.92 €1.65
-32.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 Rp 36.0K
$2.09 €1.81
-2.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 Rp 13.2K
$1.44 €1.24
-48.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,512
$0.84 €0.73
-55.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 38.7K
$6.78 €5.85
-67.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.35 Rp 361.6K
$5.71 €4.93
256.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 Rp 32.6K
$1.38 €1.19
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$2.22 €1.91
32.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,171
$2.40 €2.07
-87.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.60 Rp 152.8K
$46.78 €40.37
-81.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 Rp 16.8K
$4.17 €3.60
-77.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,493
$1.14 €0.98
-67.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 Rp 52.5K
$17.68 €15.26
-83.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 Rp 13.1K
$2.32 €2.01
-68.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K Rp 405.3M
$35.3K €30.5K
-35.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K Rp 476.2M
$41.4K €35.8K
-35.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.4 Rp 1.1M
$170 €147
-62.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.32 Rp 112.3K
$19.34 €16.69
-67.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.43 Rp 416.2K
$33.64 €29.03
-30.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.64 Rp 508.8K
$48.10 €41.50
-40.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.34 Rp 148.2K
$19.90 €17.17
-58.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02 Rp 53.7K
$9.92 €8.56
-69.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.8 Rp 1.7M
$717 €619
-86.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,876 Rp 139.9M
$17.5K €15.1K
-54.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.56 Rp 489.6K
$105 €90.4
-73.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.07 Rp 534.2K
$46.95 €40.51
-35.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.5 Rp 1.0M
$103 €89.2
-45.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5 Rp 1.4M
$124 €107
-35.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$193 Rp 3.4M
$1,677 €1,447
-88.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 Rp 2.7M
$1,271 €1,097
-87.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$562 Rp 10.0M
$2,985 €2,575
-81.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 Rp 6.6M
$1,992 €1,719
-81.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,260 Rp 22.4M
$7,826 €6,753
-83.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$668 Rp 11.9M
$4,658 €4,019
-85.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pekanbaru
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$181 Rp 3.2M
$1,583 €1,366
-88.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
3.79
149.60%

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

Last update for Pekanbaru: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Pekanbaru and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 776% 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: $8.00 in Pekanbaru vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $283 per month, with Pekanbaru 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
Pekanbaru vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pekanbaru and in Lisbon?
Pekanbaru and Lisbon differ by about 268% in total monthly costs ($630 vs $2,316 including rent). Pekanbaru 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 776% 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 Pekanbaru and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $193 in Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $94.8 in Pekanbaru 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 42% 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 $630 in Pekanbaru versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pekanbaru but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Pekanbaru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Pekanbaru 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: Pekanbaru or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Pekanbaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 268% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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