🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $668 in Samarinda versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Samarinda versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,417 in Samarinda versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Samarinda costs roughly 71% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Samarinda is 51% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.67Rp 29.6K
$17.59€15.33
-90.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.45Rp 255.8K
$62.9€54.8
-77.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.33Rp 59.0K
$11.58€10.10
-71.24%
Cappuccino
$1.51Rp 26.7K
$3.10€2.70
-51.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,041
$2.49€2.17
-81.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,096
$1.74€1.52
-86.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 42.8K
$3.48€3.03
-30.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55Rp 62.8K
$3.44€3.00
3.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08Rp 19.1K
$1.15€1.00
-6.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86Rp 15.3K
$1.91€1.66
-54.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66Rp 11.7K
$1.50€1.31
-56.00%
Eggs
$1.47Rp 26.0K
$3.98€3.47
-63.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62Rp 134.9K
$13.29€11.59
-42.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.58Rp 63.4K
$8.01€6.98
-55.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.18Rp 180.2K
$18.04€15.73
-43.57%
Apples(1kg)
$5.14Rp 91.1K
$2.35€2.05
118.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$1.75€1.53
-36.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$1.85€1.62
-39.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44Rp 25.5K
$2.55€2.22
-43.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.5K
$1.84€1.61
-27.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.5K
$2.10€1.83
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73Rp 12.9K
$1.49€1.30
-51.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 9,912
$0.82€0.71
-31.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09Rp 37.1K
$7.10€6.19
-70.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.88Rp 369.8K
$5.91€5.15
253.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73Rp 30.7K
$1.31€1.15
32.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95Rp 52.3K
$2.13€1.86
38.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31Rp 5,563
$2.36€2.05
-86.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.62€40.63
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50Rp 8,867
$4.08€3.55
-87.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,160
$1.14€0.99
-74.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 52.2K
$17.09€14.90
-82.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.3K
$2.31€2.01
-64.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 464.2M
$34.1K€29.7K
-23.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KRp 542.1M
$41.4K€36.1K
-26.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.6Rp 1.2M
$169€147
-58.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.76Rp 84.3K
$19.33€16.85
-75.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.69Rp 348.7K
$33.51€29.21
-41.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.10Rp 355.8K
$48.84€42.57
-58.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.41Rp 131.2K
$19.43€16.94
-61.86%
Cinema Ticket
$2.77Rp 49.1K
$9.57€8.34
-71.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.8Rp 1.7M
$696€607
-85.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,725Rp 119.1M
$17.4K€15.1K
-61.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.32Rp 731.7K
$105€91.8
-60.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.85Rp 528.5K
$47.75€41.62
-37.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.9Rp 1.3M
$101€87.6
-25.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4Rp 1.4M
$124€108
-36.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198Rp 3.5M
$1,662€1,449
-88.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$1,246€1,086
-89.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483Rp 8.5M
$2,965€2,584
-83.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358Rp 6.3M
$2,049€1,786
-82.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,143Rp 20.2M
$7,834€6,829
-85.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$687Rp 12.2M
$4,464€3,892
-84.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$340Rp 6.0M
$1,632€1,422
-79.17%
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 Samarinda: September 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Samarinda and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 380% 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: $14.00 in Samarinda vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $277 per month, with Samarinda 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
Samarinda vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Samarinda and in Lisbon?
Samarinda and Lisbon differ by about 244% in total monthly costs ($668 vs $2,296 including rent). Samarinda 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 380% 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 Samarinda and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $198 in Samarinda 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 28% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Samarinda or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $668 per month in Samarinda versus $2,296 in Lisbon – a 244% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $668 in Samarinda versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Samarinda but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Samarinda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Samarinda 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 Samarinda or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Samarinda 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: Samarinda or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Samarinda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 244% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.