😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $626 in Chaozhou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $994 in Chaozhou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,361 in Chaozhou.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 256% more expensive than Chaozhou, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Chaozhou is 53% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$2.12¥14.55
662.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$23.14¥158
179.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$3.39¥23.21
206.19%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.37¥9.36
102.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.47¥3.19
378.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.27¥1.84
481.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.12¥7.68
211.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$2.76¥18.87
44.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.78¥12.18
-39.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.41¥9.69
23.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$0.72¥4.94
141.67%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.03¥7.04
208.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$8.76¥60.0
53.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$2.34¥16.01
241.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$10.93¥74.9
47.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.12¥14.50
7.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$0.81¥5.55
112.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$0.88¥6.02
120.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.70¥11.62
49.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.59¥4.03
210.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.43¥2.98
374.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.44¥3.00
350.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.27¥1.84
214.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.73¥18.68
150.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$11.08¥75.9
-47.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.72¥4.94
90.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.14¥7.81
154.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.29¥2.00
686.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$16.82¥115
178.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.92¥6.30
343.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.26¥1.77
215.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$6.60¥45.20
176.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.09¥7.43
84.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$16.3K¥111.4K
116.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$17.8K¥122.1K
116.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$38.52¥264
277.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$4.10¥28.10
411.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$11.58¥79.3
245.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$42.01¥288
16.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$13.73¥94.1
36.13%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$6.02¥41.21
50.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$463¥3,174
30.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$17.2K¥117.6K
-4.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$12.15¥83.2
761.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$26.04¥178
57.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$84.1¥576
11.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$55.0¥377
115.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$282¥1,931
469.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$190¥1,300
551.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$583¥3,992
422.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$366¥2,507
462.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$2,794¥19.1K
175.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,976¥13.5K
115.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Chaozhou
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$468¥3,206
238.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.56
7.02%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Chaozhou: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $282 in Chaozhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 238% 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 $23.00 in Chaozhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $173 per month, with Chaozhou cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Chaozhou: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Chaozhou?
Lisbon and Chaozhou differ by about 256% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $626 including rent). Chaozhou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Chaozhou?
Lisbon pays 238% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Chaozhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $282 in Chaozhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Chaozhou?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $463 in Chaozhou. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $626 in Chaozhou versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chaozhou but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Chaozhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Chaozhou?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Chaozhou safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Chaozhou are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Chaozhou?
Expats usually find Chaozhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 256% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.