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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,268 per month in Lisbon vs $789 in Aktau, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,348 per month in Lisbon vs $1,295 in Aktau, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,429 per month in Lisbon vs $1,802 in Aktau, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 188% more than Aktau, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 64% above the global median, while Aktau is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.13
$11.07 ₸5,002
58.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$44.02 ₸19.9K
46.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$9.65 ₸4,359
20.73%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$2.58 ₸1,166
26.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$0.77 ₸348
223.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$0.49 ₸221
240.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$1.28 ₸580
171.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$1.56 ₸705
129.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.47 ₸663
-19.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$0.43 ₸196
353.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$1.91 ₸863
-18.32%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$1.75 ₸790
129.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.45
$10.12 ₸4,573
31.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$4.36 ₸1,972
93.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$8.77 ₸3,960
107.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$1.45 ₸653
60.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.27 ₸1,026
-23.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$2.39 ₸1,078
-19.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.28
$2.85 ₸1,289
-7.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$0.61 ₸278
211.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$0.57 ₸256
270.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.47 ₸663
-2.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$0.99 ₸446
-19.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$2.70 ₸1,219
159.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$9.46 ₸4,275
-37.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$0.71 ₸323
91.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$0.86 ₸389
150.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$0.18 ₸82.5
1222.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.86
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$1.13 ₸510
270.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$0.68 ₸306
61.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$0.58 ₸263
287.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$30.7K ₸13.9M
35.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$45.97 ₸20.8K
271.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.39
$8.08 ₸3,650
135.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.56
$10.57 ₸4,777
224.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.81
$35.93 ₸16.2K
38.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.82
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$3.11 ₸1,405
224.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$144 ₸65.0K
385.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$2,633 ₸1.2M
574.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$67.2 ₸30.3K
55.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.36
$40.31 ₸18.2K
19.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$70.3 ₸31.8K
44.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$89.3 ₸40.4K
43.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,433
$319 ₸144.3K
420.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$193 ₸87.1K
536.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,514
$539 ₸243.5K
440.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,745
$388 ₸175.2K
421.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,010
$779 ₸352.0K
943.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,997
$630 ₸284.7K
635.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Aktau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$559 ₸252.4K
189.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
14
-73.00%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Aktau: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,661 in Lisbon versus $319 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 190% 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 $64.0 in Lisbon versus $44.00 in Aktau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $202 – 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 188% more than Aktau, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Aktau?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,402 per month in Lisbon and $1,183 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 and in Aktau?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Lisbon and $44.00 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 in Aktau?
Groceries cost about 39% 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 in Aktau?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aktau, where all-in costs run around $789, than in Lisbon at $2,268. 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 $789 versus $2,268 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 to 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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