Monthly Budget Breakdown: Living in Lisbon, Bangkok & Medellín

“Cost of living” is one of the most searched terms by anyone considering a move abroad. But a single average number is almost useless. Knowing that Lisbon “costs $2,200 a month” tells you nothing about where that money actually goes — whether rent is eating 50% of your budget, whether groceries are a bargain, or whether healthcare will blindside you with a $300 monthly bill you did not expect.

This guide does what most cost-of-living articles skip: it breaks every dollar into categories. We will walk through three of the most popular relocation cities in the world — Lisbon, Bangkok, and Medellín — line by line, so you can see exactly where your money goes and where you can save.

All numbers reflect a moderate solo lifestyle: a private one-bedroom apartment, cooking at home most days but eating out several times a week, using public transport, and carrying private health insurance. Not backpacker-lean, not luxury — the realistic middle ground where most expats actually land.

Why Category-Level Budgets Matter

Average cost-of-living numbers hide the real story. Consider two cities that both “cost $1,500 a month.” In one, rent might be $900 and everything else is cheap. In the other, rent is $500 but dining, transport, and healthcare add up to the same total. Those are radically different lifestyles — and radically different planning strategies.

Category breakdowns reveal the levers you can actually pull. Rent is mostly fixed once you sign a lease, but groceries, dining, and transport are flexible. In Bangkok, street food culture means dining out can be cheaper than cooking at home. In Lisbon, cooking saves you hundreds because restaurant prices have climbed with tourism. Knowing this changes how you budget.

Healthcare is the wildcard most people underestimate. In Portugal, public healthcare is available to residents but many expats opt for private insurance at $200–$300 per month. In Thailand, world-class private hospitals cost a fraction of Western prices. In Colombia, the EPS public system is accessible to legal residents and surprisingly good. These differences can swing your monthly budget by $200 or more.

The bottom line: if you are not budgeting by category, you are guessing. Use WhereNext’s Budget Builder to see category-level breakdowns for any of 95 countries before you commit.

Lisbon, Portugal — $2,200/Month (Moderate)

Lisbon has been the default European hub for digital nomads and expats since Portugal launched its NHR tax regime and D7 visa. The city delivers walkable neighborhoods, reliable infrastructure, fast internet, and a thriving international community. The tradeoff is price: Lisbon is no longer the bargain it was five years ago, and rent in particular has surged.

The Breakdown

• Rent: $1,100 — A one-bedroom apartment in central Lisbon (Graça, Alfama, or Baixa-Chiado). Expect a modern studio or a renovated traditional flat with good natural light. Furnished options dominate the short-to-mid-term rental market.
• Groceries: $350 — Shopping at Pingo Doce, Continente, or Lidl. Fresh produce, fish, bread, and olive oil are excellent value. Imported goods and specialty items push this higher.
• Dining out: $300 — Eating out three to four times a week at mid-range local restaurants. A typical prato do dia (daily special) costs $8–$12 including drink. Weekend brunches at expat-popular cafes run $12–$18.
• Transport: $50 — The Viva Viagem monthly pass covers metro, tram, bus, and commuter trains across the Lisbon metro area. One of the best transit deals in Europe.
• Utilities: $120 — Electricity, water, and gas. Electricity is the main driver, especially if you use heating in winter (Portuguese apartments are notoriously poorly insulated). Summer AC is uncommon but increasingly desired.
• Internet: $40 — Fiber internet from NOS, MEO, or Vodafone. Speeds of 100–500 Mbps are standard and reliable.
• Healthcare: $240 — Private health insurance through providers like Multicare or Médis. Covers private clinics and hospitals, specialist visits, and prescription drugs. Public healthcare (SNS) is available to residents but wait times for non-urgent care can be long.

Total: $2,200/month

Neighborhood Tips

Rent is the biggest line item, and your choice of neighborhood is the biggest lever. Graça and Mouraria offer central living at 15–20% below Chiado or Príncipe Real prices. Alfama is charming but attracts tourist-driven short-term rental pricing — you may pay a premium for a neighborhood that is quieter in the off season. Arroios is increasingly popular with longer-term expats for its mix of local culture and lower rents.

The biggest savings come from moving slightly outside the center. Alcântara, Benfica, and the south bank cities of Almada or Cacilhas (connected by ferry) can drop your rent to $700–$850 while keeping you within 20 minutes of central Lisbon. If you are working remotely and do not need to be downtown daily, this is the highest-impact move you can make.

Bangkok, Thailand — $1,300/Month (Moderate)

Bangkok is the Southeast Asian capital of value. A massive, modern metropolis with world-class healthcare, excellent transit, and one of the best food scenes on earth — all at a price point that lets most remote workers save money while living better than they did at home. The nomad and expat infrastructure is deep and well-established.

The Breakdown

• Rent: $500 — A one-bedroom condo on or near a BTS Skytrain line, typically with a pool, gym, and 24-hour security. Fully furnished is the norm. Newer buildings in areas like Ari or On Nut offer excellent value.
• Groceries: $200 — A mix of local wet markets and modern supermarkets (Tops, Big C, Makro). Fresh produce, rice, and proteins are extremely affordable. Imported Western goods carry a markup.
• Dining out: $250 — Street food meals for $1.50–$3, local restaurant dishes for $3–$6, and occasional Western restaurants for $10–$15. Bangkok’s street food is so cheap and so good that many expats eat out more often than they cook.
• Transport: $50 — A combination of BTS Skytrain, MRT subway, and Grab rides. No monthly pass system exists for the BTS, so costs vary with usage. Motorbike taxis and canal boats fill the gaps cheaply.
• Utilities: $80 — Electricity is the main cost, and air conditioning drives it. A condo running AC several hours a day will see electricity bills of $50–$80. Water is minimal ($5–$10).
• Internet: $25 — True, AIS, or 3BB fiber packages. Speeds of 100–300 Mbps are standard and reliable. Among the best value-for-speed internet in the world.
• Healthcare: $195 — International health insurance covering Thailand’s excellent private hospital network (Bumrungrad, BNH, Samitivej). Out-of-pocket costs for minor visits are low even without insurance: a doctor visit at a private hospital runs $20–$40.

Total: $1,300/month

Neighborhood Tips

Ari is the sweet spot for expats who want a local, walkable neighborhood with great cafes and restaurants, slightly away from the tourist zones. Rent runs 10–15% below comparable condos in Thonglor. On Nut is the value champion — a rapidly developing area on the BTS line where modern one-bedroom condos start at $350–$400. Thonglor and Ekkamai are the upscale picks: trendier, pricier, and packed with high-end dining and nightlife. Expect $600–$900 for a one-bedroom in these areas.

A major advantage of Bangkok is that the BTS and MRT make neighborhood choice flexible. You do not need to live in the center to access everything the city offers. Living two or three stops further out can save $100–$200 a month in rent with minimal impact on your daily routine.

Lisbon vs Bangkok: Side-by-Side

Here is how the two cities compare category by category. Bangkok wins on raw affordability across every single line item, but the total gap is driven primarily by rent — Lisbon’s most painful expense.

The $900 monthly difference adds up to $10,800 a year. That is enough to fund a month-long trip home, build a serious emergency fund, or simply invest. It does not mean Bangkok is “better” — Lisbon offers EU residency pathways, closer proximity to the US and Africa, and a European lifestyle. But on pure cost, it is not close.

Medellín, Colombia — $1,400/Month (Moderate)

Medellín sits in the middle ground between Lisbon and Bangkok — significantly cheaper than Europe but with a lifestyle quality that rivals cities twice its price. The climate is the headline feature: spring-like weather year-round in the “City of Eternal Spring,” with daily highs of 24–28°C and no need for heating or heavy air conditioning. The city has invested heavily in public infrastructure, and the nomad community has exploded over the past five years.

The Breakdown

• Rent: $600 — A one-bedroom apartment in Laureles or Envigado, two of the most popular neighborhoods for longer-term expats. Expect a modern furnished apartment in a secure building. Poblado commands higher prices ($800–$1,200) with a more tourist-oriented atmosphere.
• Groceries: $220 — Shopping at Éxito, Carulla, or local plazas de mercado. Tropical fruits, rice, beans, and proteins are exceptionally affordable. Coffee — obviously — is world-class and costs almost nothing.
• Dining out: $200 — A menu del día (daily lunch set) costs $3–$5 at local restaurants and includes soup, main course, drink, and dessert. Mid-range dinner at a sit-down restaurant runs $8–$14. Poblado’s international restaurants are pricier but still 50–60% below US equivalents.
• Transport: $40 — Medellín’s metro system is excellent and covers the main valley corridor. Cable cars (metrocable) connect hillside neighborhoods. A single ride costs about $0.70. Supplement with occasional Uber or InDriver rides at $2–$5 per trip.
• Utilities: $60 — The mild climate means minimal heating or cooling costs. Electricity, water, and gas are government-subsidized for lower estrato (socioeconomic tier) neighborhoods. Estrato 3–4 apartments in Laureles hit the sweet spot of quality and subsidized rates.
• Internet: $30 — Fiber packages from Claro, Tigo, or ETB. Speeds of 100–300 Mbps are available in most urban areas. Reliability has improved significantly and is now comparable to most European cities.
• Healthcare: $250 — Private health insurance (EPS or medicina prepagada) from Sura, Colsanitas, or Coomeva. Colombia’s healthcare system is ranked among the best in Latin America. Private clinics in Medellín are modern and staffed with well-trained physicians. Many expats also pay out of pocket for routine visits at $15–$30 per consultation.

Total: $1,400/month

Neighborhood Tips

Laureles is the consensus pick for longer-term expats. It is walkable, safe, packed with restaurants and cafes, and significantly cheaper than Poblado. Rent averages 25–35% less than equivalent apartments in Poblado, and the neighborhood has a more authentic, residential feel. Envigado — technically a separate municipality south of Medellín — offers even lower rents, a quieter pace, and excellent local dining. It is connected to the metro and increasingly popular with expats seeking value.

Poblado is where most short-term visitors and newer arrivals land. It has the highest concentration of coworking spaces, international restaurants, and nightlife — but it comes with tourist-driven pricing and an atmosphere that can feel more like an expat bubble than a Colombian neighborhood. If you are staying more than a few months, most long-term residents recommend starting in Poblado and then moving to Laureles or Envigado once you know the city.

How Lifestyle Level Changes Everything

The numbers above assume a moderate lifestyle. But your actual spending can vary dramatically depending on whether you are optimizing for savings or comfort. Here is how the same three cities look at lean and comfortable spending levels.

Lean Budget (Solo, Minimal Dining Out, Shared Housing OK)

• Lisbon: $1,500/month — Share a flat ($550 rent), cook at home, use the transit pass, basic public healthcare
• Bangkok: $800/month — Studio condo outside center ($300), street food daily, no insurance (pay out of pocket)
• Medellín: $900/month — Shared apartment in Laureles ($350), menu del día lunches, EPS public healthcare

Comfortable Budget (Solo, Regular Dining, Quality Housing)

• Lisbon: $3,000/month — One-bedroom in Príncipe Real ($1,400), dining out most days, gym membership, premium insurance
• Bangkok: $2,000/month — One-bedroom in Thonglor ($700), mix of street food and restaurants, good insurance, coworking membership
• Medellín: $2,200/month — One-bedroom in Poblado ($900), frequent dining out, premium medicina prepagada, coworking space

The pattern is consistent: Bangkok offers the widest range between lean and comfortable, meaning you have more flexibility to dial spending up or down. Lisbon has the highest floor — even a lean lifestyle is expensive by global standards because rent has a hard minimum in desirable areas. Medellín sits in the sweet spot of low minimums with plenty of room to upgrade.

Want to see how these numbers shift for couples or families? The Budget Builder adjusts all seven categories based on your household size and preferred lifestyle tier.

Build Your Own Budget

Lisbon, Bangkok, and Medellín are popular for good reason, but they are three cities out of hundreds. Maybe you are considering Tbilisi, Kuala Lumpur, Buenos Aires, or Prague. The same category-level analysis applies everywhere — and WhereNext generates it automatically.

Here is how to build your personalized budget:

1. Go to the Budget Builder and select your target country from 95 options.
2. Choose your lifestyle tier — lean, moderate, or comfortable — to see how each category scales.
3. Adjust your household size. A couple shares rent and utilities but doubles grocery and healthcare costs. A family with children adds education and larger housing requirements.
4. Cross-reference with the Salary Calculator to see whether your income covers the budget with room to save.
5. Use the Cost of Living tool to compare purchasing power between your current city and your target destination.

The goal is not to predict your expenses to the dollar — actual spending always varies. The goal is to know your floor and your ceiling before you arrive, so you are not guessing when you sign that first lease.

The Bottom Line

Category-level budgeting is the difference between moving abroad confidently and moving abroad anxiously. A single “average cost of living” number gives you a vague sense of whether a city is expensive or cheap. A seven-category breakdown shows you exactly where your money goes, which levers you can pull, and where the hidden costs lurk.

Across our three cities, the patterns are clear: rent dominates every budget and varies the most between neighborhoods. Healthcare is the most underestimated line item. Transport is cheap almost everywhere outside the US. And dining out can be either a budget-buster (Lisbon) or a budget-saver (Bangkok street food is cheaper than cooking).

If you are serious about relocating, start with the numbers. Build your budget city by city, category by category. Then go visit with clear eyes and a spreadsheet that matches reality.