🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,148 in Tsukuba versus $1,756 in Amadora.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,829 in Tsukuba versus $2,565 in Amadora.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,511 in Tsukuba versus $3,374 in Amadora.
🙂Living in Tsukuba costs roughly 35% less than in Amadora, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tsukuba is 14% below, Amadora is 31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.24¥678
$11.40€9.82
-62.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.23¥5,795
$45.54€39.21
-20.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.42¥867
$9.21€7.93
-41.15%
Cappuccino
$2.83¥452
$1.97€1.70
43.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92¥147
$1.94€1.67
-52.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81¥130
$1.44€1.24
-43.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99¥318
$2.38€2.05
-16.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05¥488
$3.46€2.98
-11.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56¥250
$1.07€0.92
45.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74¥279
$1.64€1.41
6.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.50¥401
$1.36€1.17
83.82%
Eggs
$2.20¥353
$3.05€2.63
-27.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30¥1,328
$11.55€9.94
-28.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.07¥972
$7.26€6.25
-16.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.14¥1,782
$11.22€9.66
-0.71%
Apples(1kg)
$5.90¥943
$1.94€1.67
204.12%
Banana(1kg)
$3.03¥485
$1.71€1.47
77.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.93¥629
$1.54€1.33
155.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05¥328
$2.68€2.31
-23.51%
Potato(1kg)
$3.39¥542
$1.51€1.30
124.50%
Onion(1kg)
$3.46¥553
$1.86€1.60
86.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07¥172
$1.70€1.46
-37.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86¥138
$0.40€0.35
115.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00¥641
$6.46€5.57
-38.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.42¥1,506
$5.56€4.79
69.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74¥279
$1.30€1.12
33.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06¥330
$1.13€0.97
82.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.49¥399
$2.86€2.46
-12.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.4¥8,697
$46.32€39.89
17.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.44¥551
$4.11€3.54
-16.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.89¥462
$0.86€0.74
236.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.87¥3,499
$17.19€14.80
27.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18¥189
$1.89€1.62
-37.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K¥3.4M
$23.1K€19.9K
-7.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.4K¥2.5M
$39.6K€34.1K
-61.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141¥22.6K
$170€147
-17.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.94¥4,469
$21.43€18.45
30.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.60¥5,535
$29.27€25.21
18.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2¥9,624
$40.95€35.26
46.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.79¥2,206
$29.14€25.09
-52.68%
Cinema Ticket
$13.60¥2,175
$8.34€7.18
63.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$136¥21.8K
$353€304
-61.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K¥1.9M
$13.0K€11.2K
-8.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.80¥6,685
$70.3€60.5
-40.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.96¥4,792
$34.82€29.99
-13.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.14¥6,741
$100€86.5
-58.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.0¥15.3K
$82.3€70.9
16.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$503¥80.4K
$979€843
-48.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$317¥50.8K
$860€741
-63.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,188¥190.0K
$1,651€1,422
-28.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$697¥111.4K
$1,371€1,181
-49.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,365¥698.2K
$3,849€3,314
13.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,137¥341.8K
$3,411€2,937
-37.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tsukuba
Amadora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,413¥226.1K
$1,478€1,273
-4.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
5.43
-63.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tsukuba: June 1, 2026
Last update for Amadora: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Tsukuba and $979 in Amadora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amadora pays 5% 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: $36.00 in Tsukuba vs $46.00 in Amadora. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $229, with Amadora cheaper for home cooking.
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
Tsukuba vs Amadora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amadora cheaper than Tsukuba?
Tsukuba is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tsukuba or Amadora?
On paper, Amadora earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tsukuba and Amadora?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Tsukuba versus $979 in Amadora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tsukuba and Amadora?
Shoppers in Amadora pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Tsukuba or Amadora?
Dining out is cheaper in Tsukuba – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $46.00 in Amadora. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tsukuba or Amadora?
At $1,148 in Tsukuba versus $1,756 in Amadora, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tsukuba but tight or insufficient in Amadora. The gap between the two cities makes Tsukuba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tsukuba or Amadora more family-friendly?
For families, Tsukuba is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Amadora, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tsukuba or Amadora?
Safety-wise, Tsukuba and Amadora are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tsukuba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Amadora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.