🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $688 in Samarinda versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,074 in Samarinda versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,460 in Samarinda versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Samarinda costs roughly 70% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Samarinda is 49% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$15.94€13.73
-90.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.53Rp 224.5K
$63.4€54.6
-80.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.80Rp 103.9K
$10.38€8.95
-44.12%
Cappuccino
$1.64Rp 29.4K
$2.79€2.40
-41.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,727
$2.34€2.01
-79.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,873
$1.57€1.35
-75.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$3.43€2.95
-28.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60Rp 64.5K
$3.91€3.37
-7.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.08€0.93
8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92Rp 16.6K
$1.77€1.52
-48.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$1.71€1.47
-54.39%
Eggs
$1.57Rp 28.2K
$3.15€2.71
-50.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.35Rp 149.6K
$13.68€11.79
-38.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.91Rp 70.1K
$8.01€6.90
-51.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.91Rp 195.6K
$15.52€13.37
-29.70%
Apples(1kg)
$5.51Rp 98.7K
$2.29€1.98
140.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$1.64€1.41
-26.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$1.94€1.67
-40.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$2.51€2.17
-37.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$1.79€1.54
-16.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$2.01€1.73
-1.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.9K
$1.97€1.69
-51.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.6K
$0.84€0.73
-29.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22Rp 39.7K
$6.79€5.85
-67.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.05Rp 377.1K
$5.67€4.89
271.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05Rp 36.8K
$1.39€1.20
47.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17Rp 56.8K
$3.02€2.60
4.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,736
$2.27€1.95
-85.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.97Rp 178.6K
$45.44€39.15
-78.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$4.29€3.70
-79.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,170
$0.85€0.73
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Rp 51.2K
$18.28€15.75
-84.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60Rp 10.7K
$1.99€1.71
-69.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 433.7M
$35.0K€30.2K
-30.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KRp 493.8M
$39.5K€34.1K
-30.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.9Rp 1.2M
$146€126
-52.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28Rp 76.8K
$20.45€17.62
-79.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.41Rp 401.5K
$38.98€33.58
-42.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.99Rp 411.9K
$48.98€42.21
-53.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.33Rp 113.4K
$18.83€16.22
-66.38%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 54.0K
$9.52€8.21
-68.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0Rp 1.7M
$608€524
-84.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,593Rp 136.0M
$16.5K€14.2K
-54.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23Rp 738.6K
$104€89.5
-60.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.88Rp 553.3K
$42.12€36.29
-26.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.5Rp 1.2M
$92.2€79.5
-27.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4Rp 1.3M
$120€103
-38.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.6M
$1,621€1,397
-84.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$1,268€1,092
-87.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587Rp 10.5M
$3,048€2,626
-80.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$2,009€1,731
-83.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,047Rp 18.8M
$7,663€6,602
-86.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$677Rp 12.1M
$4,329€3,730
-84.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarinda
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$328Rp 5.9M
$1,585€1,366
-79.28%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Samarinda and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 383% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $269 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 229% in total monthly costs ($688 vs $2,263 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 383% 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: $259 in Samarinda versus $1,621 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 $93.0 in Samarinda versus $608 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 $688 in Samarinda versus $2,263 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 229% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.