😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $633 in Bien Hoa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $894 in Bien Hoa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,155 in Bien Hoa.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 252% more expensive than Bien Hoa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Bien Hoa is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$1.93₫50.7K
737.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$11.37₫298.4K
467.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$4.65₫122.0K
123.23%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.16₫30.5K
138.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.44₫11.6K
411.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.21₫5,504
647.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$0.56₫14.7K
523.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$0.74₫19.5K
440.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.23₫32.3K
-12.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.78₫20.5K
123.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$0.87₫22.7K
100.00%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.42₫37.2K
123.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$11.54₫302.7K
16.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$1.97₫51.7K
305.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$9.76₫256.1K
64.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.15₫56.3K
6.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.14₫30.0K
50.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.17₫30.7K
65.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$0.99₫25.9K
156.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.12₫29.3K
63.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.18₫30.9K
72.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.43₫11.3K
360.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.46₫12.2K
84.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$1.22₫32.0K
461.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$7.65₫200.7K
-24.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.43₫11.2K
218.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$0.79₫20.7K
267.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.32₫8,384
612.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$7.00₫183.7K
569.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.41₫10.6K
895.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.67₫17.6K
22.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$1.12₫29.5K
1531.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.84₫22.0K
139.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$37.1K₫972.6M
-4.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$28.4K₫745.9M
35.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$50.4₫1.3M
188.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$4.16₫109.0K
403.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$6.78₫177.8K
490.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$10.70₫280.7K
355.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$7.73₫202.9K
141.79%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$3.51₫92.1K
158.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$66.2₫1.7M
816.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$14.1K₫370.5M
15.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$16.93₫444.1K
518.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$15.13₫397.0K
170.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$70.9₫1.9M
31.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$86.9₫2.3M
36.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$362₫9.5M
342.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$245₫6.4M
403.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$428₫11.2M
611.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$304₫8.0M
576.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,521₫39.9M
406.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$608₫15.9M
602.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bien Hoa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$344₫9.0M
361.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7.8
-51.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Bien Hoa: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $362 in Bien Hoa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 361% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $11.00 in Bien Hoa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $162 per month, with Bien Hoa cheaper across the board.
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 Bien Hoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bien Hoa cheaper than Lisbon?
Bien Hoa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 252% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Bien Hoa?
Lisbon pays 361% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Bien Hoa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $362 in Bien Hoa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Bien Hoa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or Bien Hoa?
Dining out is cheaper in Bien Hoa – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Bien Hoa?
At $633 in Bien Hoa versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bien Hoa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bien Hoa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Bien Hoa more family-friendly?
For families, Bien Hoa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Bien Hoa?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Bien Hoa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bien Hoa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 252% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.