😐A single person spends $2,752 per month in Hong Kong vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,269 per month in Hong Kong vs $3,311 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,787 per month in Hong Kong vs $4,411 in Lisbon, rent included.
😐Hong Kong costs about 25% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Hong Kong and Lisbon sit above the global median – Hong Kong by 105%, Lisbon by 65%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.00HK$70.5
$15.91€13.80
-43.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.9HK$509
$64.8€56.2
0.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.50HK$50.9
$10.51€9.12
-38.15%
Cappuccino
$5.08HK$39.76
$2.87€2.49
77.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31HK$10.23
$2.24€1.95
-41.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05HK$8.23
$1.50€1.30
-30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.77HK$53.0
$3.49€3.03
93.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.42HK$50.3
$3.88€3.37
65.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.07HK$24.02
$1.14€0.99
169.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20HK$17.21
$1.75€1.52
25.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96HK$15.39
$1.76€1.52
11.36%
Eggs
$3.50HK$27.45
$3.22€2.79
8.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.62HK$201
$13.49€11.70
89.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.17HK$79.7
$7.91€6.87
28.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.56HK$177
$15.87€13.77
42.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49HK$27.31
$2.31€2.00
51.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23HK$17.45
$1.70€1.48
31.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.83HK$29.97
$2.01€1.74
90.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.07HK$24.05
$2.46€2.13
24.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27HK$17.80
$1.84€1.60
23.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27HK$17.77
$2.00€1.74
13.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70HK$13.33
$1.93€1.67
-11.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71HK$13.38
$0.79€0.68
116.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.78HK$100
$6.61€5.73
93.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.49HK$153
$5.72€4.97
240.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84HK$14.42
$1.37€1.18
34.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69HK$21.03
$2.97€2.58
-9.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70HK$13.28
$2.37€2.06
-28.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.0HK$501
$45.56€39.52
40.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.72HK$29.15
$4.29€3.72
-13.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.37HK$10.73
$0.82€0.71
67.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.62HK$114
$18.30€15.88
-20.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.08HK$24.15
$2.06€1.79
49.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7KHK$302.8K
$34.3K€29.7K
12.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KHK$252.5K
$39.3K€34.1K
-17.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227HK$1,777
$148€128
53.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.78HK$139
$20.52€17.80
-13.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.40HK$175
$39.61€34.37
-43.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.5HK$591
$47.85€41.51
57.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.53HK$66.8
$18.92€16.42
-54.92%
Cinema Ticket
$12.54HK$98.3
$9.18€7.97
36.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$987HK$7,728
$614€533
60.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.6KHK$169.1K
$16.0K€13.9K
34.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.5HK$583
$105€90.8
-28.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.85HK$304
$42.06€36.49
-7.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2HK$698
$94.0€81.5
-5.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141HK$1,102
$120€104
17.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,235HK$17.5K
$1,628€1,412
37.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,543HK$12.1K
$1,255€1,089
22.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,752HK$37.2K
$3,030€2,629
56.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,041HK$23.8K
$2,020€1,753
50.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$27.9KHK$218.9K
$7,800€6,766
258.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$17.3KHK$135.6K
$4,273€3,707
305.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hong Kong
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,166HK$24.8K
$1,603€1,391
97.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.97
3.81
4.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hong Kong: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,235 in Hong Kong versus $1,628 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 97% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $424 in Hong Kong vs $269 in Lisbon – so Lisbon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,752 in Hong Kong, $2,210 in Lisbon – roughly 25% apart. Hong Kong costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hong Kong compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,128 per month in Hong Kong and $3,315 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 $65.0 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 $2,752 in Hong Kong and $2,210 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,752 in Hong Kong and $2,210 in Lisbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
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 $2,210 in Lisbon to $2,752 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.