ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $841 in Ratchaburi versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,397 in Ratchaburi versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,952 in Ratchaburi versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
ðLiving in Ratchaburi costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Ratchaburi is 37% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.74āļŋ122
$16.17âŽ13.84
-76.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.69āļŋ1,004
$64.6âŽ55.3
-52.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.06āļŋ198
$10.38âŽ8.88
-41.62%
Cappuccino
$1.10āļŋ36.05
$2.77âŽ2.37
-60.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30āļŋ9.72
$2.25âŽ1.92
-86.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33āļŋ10.64
$1.57âŽ1.35
-78.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29āļŋ75.0
$3.49âŽ2.99
-34.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21āļŋ72.1
$4.00âŽ3.43
-44.75%
ð Groceries & Markets
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75āļŋ57.1
$1.08âŽ0.93
62.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15āļŋ37.45
$1.74âŽ1.49
-33.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65āļŋ21.23
$1.74âŽ1.49
-62.64%
Eggs
$2.33āļŋ76.3
$3.18âŽ2.72
-26.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.65āļŋ512
$13.43âŽ11.50
16.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.51āļŋ82.0
$7.99âŽ6.84
-68.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.62āļŋ217
$16.09âŽ13.77
-58.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04āļŋ99.3
$2.28âŽ1.95
33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59āļŋ19.42
$1.72âŽ1.48
-65.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.26āļŋ41.27
$1.94âŽ1.66
-35.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.41āļŋ13.50
$2.54âŽ2.18
-83.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89āļŋ29.12
$1.83âŽ1.57
-51.37%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88āļŋ28.71
$2.04âŽ1.75
-56.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64āļŋ21.08
$1.98âŽ1.69
-67.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57āļŋ18.61
$0.85âŽ0.73
-32.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49āļŋ114
$6.85âŽ5.87
-49.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.51āļŋ605
$5.78âŽ4.94
220.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75āļŋ57.2
$1.37âŽ1.18
27.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14āļŋ69.9
$2.90âŽ2.48
-26.21%
ð Getting Around
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96āļŋ31.45
$2.28âŽ1.95
-57.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.76āļŋ1,006
$46.84âŽ40.10
-34.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09āļŋ35.74
$4.08âŽ3.49
-73.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48āļŋ15.82
$0.82âŽ0.70
-41.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.47āļŋ113
$18.27âŽ15.64
-81.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98āļŋ32.01
$2.01âŽ1.72
-51.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7Kāļŋ906.4K
$35.3KâŽ30.2K
-21.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9Kāļŋ716.0K
$38.5KâŽ32.9K
-43.11%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.9āļŋ1,993
$145âŽ124
-58.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.75āļŋ450
$20.96âŽ17.94
-34.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.70āļŋ350
$40.05âŽ34.29
-73.28%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.41āļŋ1,583
$48.79âŽ41.76
-0.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.96āļŋ391
$18.69âŽ16.00
-36.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04āļŋ132
$9.06âŽ7.76
-55.41%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$290āļŋ9,484
$607âŽ519
-52.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,215āļŋ301.3K
$16.3KâŽ14.0K
-43.57%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.08āļŋ984
$105âŽ89.6
-71.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.94āļŋ652
$40.95âŽ35.06
-51.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102āļŋ3,340
$93.6âŽ80.1
9.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.07āļŋ1,408
$119âŽ101
-63.67%
ð Accommodation & Living
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$418āļŋ13.7K
$1,604âŽ1,373
-73.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281āļŋ9,181
$1,236âŽ1,058
-77.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822āļŋ26.9K
$3,046âŽ2,607
-73.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$649āļŋ21.2K
$2,057âŽ1,761
-68.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,290āļŋ74.9K
$7,709âŽ6,599
-70.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,418āļŋ46.4K
$4,266âŽ3,652
-66.77%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Ratchaburi
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,584âŽ1,356
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.81
4.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ratchaburi: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $418 in Ratchaburi and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $31.00 in Ratchaburi vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $271 per month, with Ratchaburi 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
Ratchaburi vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ratchaburi and Lisbon?
Ratchaburi and Lisbon differ by about 165% in total monthly costs ($841 vs $2,227 including rent). Ratchaburi is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ratchaburi compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,262 in Ratchaburi and $3,341 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ratchaburi and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $418 in Ratchaburi versus $1,604 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 Ratchaburi and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $290 in Ratchaburi versus $607 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 $1,000 per month?
At $841 in Ratchaburi versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ratchaburi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ratchaburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ratchaburi and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ratchaburi or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ratchaburi 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: Ratchaburi or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Ratchaburi gentler on the wallet â expenses run 165% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ratchaburi vs other spots: cost of living compared