Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hong Kong and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,202 a month against $3,005 in Hong Kong, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hong Kong
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)
$3,005
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hong Kong and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hong Kong and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,005 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,202 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $3,005
  • Lisbon $2,202

A couple spends around $4,643 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,274 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $4,643
  • Lisbon $3,274

A family of three spends $6,281 per month in Hong Kong vs $4,346 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Hong Kong $6,281
  • Lisbon $4,346

Hong Kong costs about 37% more than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Hong Kong and Lisbon sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 122%, Lisbon by 62%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.80 HK$61.2
$17.04 €15.15
-54.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 HK$508
$62.3 €55.4
3.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.24 HK$48.97
$11.02 €9.80
-43.38%
Cappuccino
$5.01 HK$39.34
$3.12 €2.78
60.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 HK$10.12
$2.27 €2.02
-43.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 HK$8.74
$1.74 €1.55
-36.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.77 HK$61.0
$3.42 €3.04
127.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.41 HK$50.3
$3.74 €3.33
71.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.90 HK$22.79
$1.17 €1.04
147.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 HK$18.29
$1.86 €1.66
25.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 HK$17.51
$1.54 €1.37
44.81%
Eggs
$3.45 HK$27.04
$4.06 €3.61
-15.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.96 HK$196
$12.91 €11.49
93.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.79 HK$69.0
$7.90 €7.03
11.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.71 HK$139
$17.64 €15.69
0.40%
Apples (1kg)
$4.15 HK$32.59
$2.26 €2.01
83.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 HK$20.62
$1.75 €1.55
50.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 HK$35.65
$1.89 €1.68
140.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 HK$32.08
$2.56 €2.27
59.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.22 HK$25.25
$1.85 €1.64
74.05%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 HK$25.56
$1.97 €1.75
65.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 HK$12.94
$1.45 €1.29
13.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 HK$13.62
$0.77 €0.69
125.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.45 HK$106
$6.71 €5.97
100.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 HK$119
$5.67 €5.04
167.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 HK$15.44
$1.37 €1.22
43.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 HK$17.42
$2.11 €1.88
5.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 HK$10.04
$2.32 €2.07
-44.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.1 HK$707
$44.43 €39.52
102.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.67 HK$28.84
$3.95 €3.51
-7.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 HK$10.60
$1.05 €0.93
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.21 HK$127
$17.15 €15.26
-5.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$4.20 HK$32.94
$2.19 €1.95
91.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K HK$352.2K
$33.8K €30.0K
32.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K HK$288.9K
$38.3K €34.0K
-3.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$238 HK$1,865
$164 €146
45.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.70 HK$123
$18.48 €16.43
-15.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.91 HK$172
$32.96 €29.32
-33.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$91.1 HK$715
$45.87 €40.80
98.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.14 HK$71.8
$18.68 €16.61
-51.07%
Cinema Ticket
$12.96 HK$102
$9.75 €8.67
32.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,172 HK$9,201
$684 €608
71.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.2K HK$174.2K
$17.6K €15.7K
25.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9 HK$533
$104 €92.3
-34.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.57 HK$342
$46.20 €41.09
-5.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.1 HK$652
$99.7 €88.7
-16.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 HK$963
$125 €111
-1.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,255 HK$17.7K
$1,589 €1,414
41.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,752 HK$13.7K
$1,169 €1,040
49.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,173 HK$40.6K
$2,851 €2,536
81.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,543 HK$27.8K
$1,993 €1,773
77.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$29.3K HK$229.7K
$7,793 €6,932
275.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$17.5K HK$137.1K
$4,418 €3,930
295.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,285 HK$25.8K
$1,600 €1,423
105.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
3.85
-1.56%

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

Last update for Hong Kong: October 17, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
$1.8K
Lisbon
$1.2K 33.3% $583
Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
$410
Lisbon
$273 33.5% $137
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
$275
Lisbon
$215 21.8% $60
Eating Out
Hong Kong
$203
Lisbon
$247 22.2% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
$143
Lisbon
$168 18% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
$117
Lisbon
$65 44.2% $52
Getting Around
Hong Kong
$106
Lisbon
$63 40.4% $43

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,255 in Hong Kong versus $1,589 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 105% higher in Hong Kong, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Hong Kong versus $62.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $273 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
11:18 11:18 AM
04:18 4:18 AM
7 h behind Hong Kong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,367,900 Capital
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to HKD – Hong Kong Dollar Converter

Hong Kong Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 7.85 HKD (1 HKD = 0.127 USD). 1 EUR = 8.82 HKD (1 HKD = 0.113 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hong Kong Lisbon 11,030 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hong Kong
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hong Kong vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hong Kong and in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $3,005 in Hong Kong, $2,202 in Lisbon – roughly 37% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Hong Kong compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,508 per month in Hong Kong and $3,302 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hong Kong and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Hong Kong and $62.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hong Kong or Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,005 in Hong Kong and $2,202 in Lisbon. That's a gap of about 37%.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,202, than in Hong Kong at $3,005. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hong Kong it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hong Kong and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Hong Kong has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,202 in Lisbon to $3,005 in Hong Kong. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hong Kong or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Hong Kong and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hong Kong makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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