Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Aktau Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Aktau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $710 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,195 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,680 in Aktau, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 211% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Lisbon sits 65% above the global median, while Aktau is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$9.73 ₸4,768
63.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$38.64 ₸18.9K
67.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$8.66 ₸4,245
21.36%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.29 ₸1,123
25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.54 ₸265
314.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.43 ₸213
248.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$1.18 ₸579
195.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.40 ₸686
177.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.15 ₸562
-0.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.38 ₸188
360.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.70 ₸831
3.53%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.36 ₸668
136.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$8.57 ₸4,200
57.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$3.96 ₸1,938
99.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$7.61 ₸3,730
108.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.29 ₸633
79.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.01 ₸983
-15.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.05 ₸1,005
-1.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.58 ₸1,265
-4.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.56 ₸272
228.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.51 ₸250
292.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.36 ₸667
41.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.88 ₸429
-10.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$2.36 ₸1,158
180.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$8.87 ₸4,346
-35.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$0.68 ₸334
101.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$0.81 ₸399
266.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.15 ₸74.2
1480.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.03 ₸503
316.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.57 ₸280
43.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$4.62 ₸2,266
296.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.49 ₸242
320.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$20.0K ₸9.8M
71.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$24.5K ₸12.0M
60.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$39.87 ₸19.5K
270.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$7.60 ₸3,722
170.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$9.66 ₸4,733
310.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$31.61 ₸15.5K
51.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$2.77 ₸1,356
231.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$127 ₸62.4K
381.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$2,326 ₸1.1M
589.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$58.6 ₸28.7K
78.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$35.50 ₸17.4K
18.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$62.4 ₸30.6K
50.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$78.9 ₸38.7K
51.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$255 ₸125.0K
538.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$181 ₸88.5K
594.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$445 ₸218.0K
581.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$362 ₸177.3K
458.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$750 ₸367.6K
939.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$605 ₸296.4K
606.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$512 ₸251.1K
212.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8
-52.37%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aktau: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $255 in Aktau. 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 213% higher in Lisbon, 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 Lisbon versus $39.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $177 – making Aktau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Lisbon vs Aktau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Aktau?
Lisbon costs about 211% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon vs Aktau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,065 in Aktau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Aktau?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aktau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Aktau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $39.00 in Aktau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or Aktau?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Aktau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Aktau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Aktau?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aktau costs $710 versus $2,210 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Aktau?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or Aktau?
If budget matters most, go with Aktau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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