🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $671 in Pontianak versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,030 in Pontianak versus $3,289 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,390 in Pontianak versus $4,369 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Pontianak costs roughly 70% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pontianak is 50% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.44Rp 25.8K
$15.71€13.81
-90.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.43Rp 222.9K
$62.9€55.3
-80.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.28Rp 58.9K
$10.53€9.26
-68.85%
Cappuccino
$1.71Rp 30.7K
$2.88€2.54
-40.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,269
$2.25€1.98
-76.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,037
$1.56€1.37
-82.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.02Rp 54.2K
$3.39€2.98
-10.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$3.90€3.43
-37.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.08€0.95
8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 20.1K
$1.73€1.52
-35.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.76€1.55
-46.02%
Eggs
$1.53Rp 27.5K
$3.16€2.78
-51.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.25Rp 147.9K
$13.29€11.68
-37.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 56.4K
$7.87€6.92
-60.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.07Rp 144.8K
$15.84€13.92
-49.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$2.40€2.11
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.6K
$1.70€1.50
-12.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 33.4K
$2.03€1.78
-8.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$2.52€2.21
-37.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.86€1.63
-25.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.4K
$2.06€1.81
-4.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$2.00€1.76
-55.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,009
$0.78€0.69
-42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79Rp 32.1K
$6.65€5.84
-73.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.42Rp 366.2K
$5.78€5.08
253.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 38.0K
$1.38€1.22
53.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13Rp 56.2K
$3.02€2.65
3.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,789
$2.33€2.05
-86.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.92Rp 177.8K
$45.45€39.96
-78.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.3K
$4.08€3.58
-86.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,161
$0.80€0.70
-57.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.89Rp 51.8K
$18.65€16.39
-84.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$2.00€1.76
-57.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 442.4M
$35.4K€31.1K
-30.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRp 488.9M
$39.1K€34.3K
-30.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.7Rp 1.2M
$150€132
-54.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28Rp 76.7K
$20.55€18.07
-79.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.72Rp 407.5K
$39.45€34.68
-42.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.19Rp 415.9K
$48.06€42.25
-51.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.30Rp 112.9K
$18.70€16.44
-66.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 55.8K
$9.30€8.18
-66.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7Rp 1.7M
$628€552
-85.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,587Rp 136.1M
$16.5K€14.5K
-53.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.20Rp 738.9K
$102€89.3
-59.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.11Rp 540.1K
$41.55€36.52
-27.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6Rp 1.2M
$92.5€81.3
-27.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$123€108
-39.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$1,628€1,431
-84.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.8M
$1,233€1,084
-87.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595Rp 10.7M
$3,126€2,748
-80.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 6.0M
$2,058€1,809
-83.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,214Rp 21.8M
$7,762€6,824
-84.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$784Rp 14.1M
$4,386€3,856
-82.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$333Rp 6.0M
$1,621€1,425
-79.49%
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 Pontianak: July 20, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Pontianak and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 387% 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: $12.00 in Pontianak vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $269 per month, with Pontianak 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
Pontianak vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pontianak and in Lisbon?
Pontianak and Lisbon differ by about 229% in total monthly costs ($671 vs $2,210 including rent). Pontianak 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 387% 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 Pontianak and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Pontianak 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 Pontianak and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $93.7 in Pontianak versus $628 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 29% 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 $671 in Pontianak versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pontianak but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Pontianak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pontianak 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 Pontianak or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Pontianak 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: Pontianak or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 229% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.