🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $693 in Samarinda versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,065 in Samarinda versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,438 in Samarinda versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Samarinda costs roughly 69% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Samarinda is 48% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57Rp 27.2K
$16.17€13.84
-90.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.53Rp 217.1K
$64.6€55.3
-80.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.74Rp 99.5K
$10.38€8.88
-44.70%
Cappuccino
$1.73Rp 30.1K
$2.77€2.37
-37.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53Rp 9,257
$2.25€1.92
-76.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,593
$1.57€1.35
-75.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49Rp 43.2K
$3.49€2.99
-28.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51Rp 60.8K
$4.00€3.43
-12.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.2K
$1.08€0.93
12.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99Rp 17.1K
$1.74€1.49
-43.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$1.74€1.49
-54.60%
Eggs
$1.53Rp 26.5K
$3.18€2.72
-51.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.04Rp 139.4K
$13.43€11.50
-40.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.98Rp 69.0K
$7.99€6.84
-50.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.79Rp 187.1K
$16.09€13.77
-32.94%
Apples(1kg)
$5.64Rp 97.8K
$2.28€1.95
147.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22Rp 21.1K
$1.72€1.48
-29.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20Rp 20.8K
$1.94€1.66
-38.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.2K
$2.54€2.18
-38.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.83€1.57
-21.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98Rp 34.3K
$2.04€1.75
-2.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.4K
$1.98€1.69
-52.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61Rp 10.5K
$0.85€0.73
-28.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18Rp 37.7K
$6.85€5.87
-68.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.90Rp 379.6K
$5.78€4.94
278.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05Rp 35.5K
$1.37€1.18
49.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12Rp 54.0K
$2.90€2.48
7.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,575
$2.28€1.95
-85.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.65Rp 167.2K
$46.84€40.10
-79.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.89Rp 15.4K
$4.08€3.49
-78.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,051
$0.82€0.70
-57.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.84Rp 49.2K
$18.27€15.64
-84.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59Rp 10.3K
$2.01€1.72
-70.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 421.9M
$35.3K€30.2K
-30.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KRp 476.0M
$38.5K€32.9K
-28.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.3Rp 1.2M
$145€124
-52.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$20.96€17.94
-80.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.79Rp 395.0K
$40.05€34.29
-43.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.00Rp 398.7K
$48.79€41.76
-52.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.97Rp 103.5K
$18.69€16.00
-68.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 53.9K
$9.06€7.76
-65.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.0Rp 1.6M
$607€519
-84.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,437Rp 128.9M
$16.3K€14.0K
-54.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.08Rp 729.3K
$105€89.6
-59.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.65Rp 531.2K
$40.95€35.06
-25.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.5Rp 1.2M
$93.6€80.1
-28.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3Rp 1.3M
$119€101
-37.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.5M
$1,604€1,373
-83.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$1,236€1,058
-87.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.1M
$3,046€2,607
-80.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.7M
$2,057€1,761
-84.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,140Rp 19.8M
$7,709€6,599
-85.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$877Rp 15.2M
$4,266€3,652
-79.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$343Rp 5.9M
$1,584€1,356
-78.36%
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 Samarinda: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Samarinda and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 362% 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: $13.00 in Samarinda vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $271 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 Lisbon?
Samarinda and Lisbon differ by about 222% in total monthly costs ($693 vs $2,227 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, Lisbon earns 362% 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 Samarinda and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Samarinda 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 Samarinda and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $92.0 in Samarinda 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 15% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $693 in Samarinda versus $2,227 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 222% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.