Cost of Living Comparison Between Timor-Leste and Germany Cost of Living Comparison Between Timor-Leste and Germany

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,553 in Timor-Leste versus $2,060 in Germany.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,403 in Timor-Leste versus $3,092 in Germany.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,252 in Timor-Leste versus $4,124 in Germany.

Living in Timor-Leste costs about 25% less than in Germany on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Timor-Leste 13% above, Germany 50% above.

Internal cost variation is higher in Timor-Leste: monthly costs span $1,553 to $1,553, compared to $1,389$2,918 in Germany. City choice carries more weight in Timor-Leste.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96 $4.96
$17.17 €14.76
-71.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.07 $42.07
$75.8 €65.2
-44.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 $7.88
$13.00 €11.18
-39.38%
Cappuccino
$4.20 $4.20
$4.25 €3.65
-1.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 $1.64
$3.63 €3.12
-54.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$3.07 €2.64
-22.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 $2.49
$5.30 €4.55
-53.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$4.62 €3.98
0.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.30 $2.30
$1.39 €1.20
65.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.17 €1.86
13.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 $0.94
$3.62 €3.12
-74.03%
Eggs
$2.69 $2.69
$4.04 €3.47
-33.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.05 $2.05
$14.95 €12.85
-86.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 $9.32
$12.09 €10.40
-22.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 $15.87
$22.00 €18.92
-27.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.37 €2.90
1.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$2.05 €1.76
-12.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.38 €2.05
6.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$4.40 €3.78
-47.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.53 €1.32
-22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.51 €1.30
-21.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.72 €1.48
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.11 €0.96
-8.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 $2.97
$10.31 €8.86
-71.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.11 $12.11
$5.78 €4.97
109.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.17 €1.00
88.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.61 €1.39
78.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 $0.26
$3.86 €3.32
-93.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.18 $43.18
$74.6 €64.2
-42.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$5.48 €4.71
-37.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.91 €2.50
22.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.35 $20.35
$40.53 €34.85
-49.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$2.09 €1.80
-28.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K $19.6K
$34.2K €29.4K
-42.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K $18.4K
$39.7K €34.2K
-53.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 $149
$357 €307
-58.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.28 $27.28
$26.61 €22.88
2.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$50.3 €43.26
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.32 $49.32
$42.58 €36.61
15.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.78 €24.75
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.03 $6.03
$14.83 €12.75
-59.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$599 €515
150.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K $16.0K
$17.8K €15.3K
-10.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 $59.8
$93.1 €80.1
-35.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.47 $30.47
$43.73 €37.60
-30.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 $80.3
$103 €88.1
-21.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.2 $61.2
$132 €113
-53.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$831 $831
$928 €798
-10.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$768 $768
$723 €622
6.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,761 $2,761
$1,756 €1,510
57.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,501 $1,501
$1,361 €1,170
10.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$6,208 €5,337
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,162 €3,578
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timor-Leste
Germany
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,030 $5,030
$3,399 €2,922
47.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.37
3.96
35.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Timor-Leste: August 29, 2026

Last update for Germany: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $824 in Timor-Leste, $833 in Germany. Capital cities: $824 in Dili vs $1,567 in Berlin.

National salary averages: $3,634 in Timor-Leste, $3,225 in Germany. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Dining out costs 76% more in Germany.

Public transport is 127% more expensive in Germany.

Salaries are 13% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.

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
Timor-Leste vs Germany: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Timor-Leste?
At $2,154 per month in Germany and $1,553 in Timor-Leste, there's a 39% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Germany or Timor-Leste?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Timor-Leste: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Germany and Timor-Leste?
Rent in Germany is consistently higher than in Timor-Leste across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,500 go in Germany compared to Timor-Leste?
In Timor-Leste, $1,500 covers most cities easily; in Germany it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Timor-Leste?
It depends on what you're after: Timor-Leste wins on affordability; Germany may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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