😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $698 in Dong Hoi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,043 in Dong Hoi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,387 in Dong Hoi.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 217% more expensive than Dong Hoi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Dong Hoi is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$1.14₫30.0K
1295.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$11.67₫306.9K
455.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$4.74₫124.5K
121.73%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.42₫37.2K
102.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.54₫14.2K
314.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.31₫8,264
383.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$0.76₫20.1K
359.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$1.18₫31.1K
228.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.38₫36.4K
-17.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.92₫24.2K
90.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.17₫30.8K
50.43%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.45₫38.2K
122.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$12.32₫323.8K
9.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$3.36₫88.3K
135.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$9.62₫253.0K
64.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.75₫72.3K
-16.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.92₫24.1K
84.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.13₫29.6K
77.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.09₫28.7K
125.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.10₫28.9K
67.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.20₫31.7K
66.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.00₫26.4K
93.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.52₫13.6K
51.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$1.37₫36.1K
382.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$7.51₫197.4K
-23.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.80₫21.1K
71.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.65₫43.4K
80.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.31₫8,250
664.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$6.38₫167.7K
614.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.88₫23.3K
387.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.69₫18.2K
18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$2.83₫74.3K
546.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.85₫22.4K
142.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$26.7K₫702.4M
28.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$28.8K₫757.1M
36.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$65.6₫1.7M
125.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$5.79₫152.1K
254.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$8.46₫222.3K
368.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$20.97₫551.3K
128.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$7.44₫195.6K
154.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$3.04₫79.9K
201.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$154₫4.0M
298.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$12.8K₫337.7M
24.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$39.70₫1.0M
163.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$25.65₫674.2K
63.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$52.5₫1.4M
78.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$77.3₫2.0M
54.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$353₫9.3M
361.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$249₫6.5M
404.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$678₫17.8M
346.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$474₫12.5M
325.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$4,224₫111.1M
84.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$1,652₫43.4M
158.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Dong Hoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$394₫10.4M
306.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7
-45.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Dong Hoi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $353 in Dong Hoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 307% 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 $12.00 in Dong Hoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $184 per month, with Dong Hoi 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 Dong Hoi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Dong Hoi?
Lisbon and Dong Hoi differ by about 217% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $698 including rent). Dong Hoi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Dong Hoi?
Lisbon pays 307% 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 Dong Hoi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $353 in Dong Hoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Dong Hoi?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $698 in Dong Hoi – a 217% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and Dong Hoi?
A monthly transit pass in Dong Hoi runs roughly 614% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $698 in Dong Hoi versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dong Hoi but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Dong Hoi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Dong Hoi?
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 Dong Hoi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Dong Hoi 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 Dong Hoi?
Expats usually find Dong Hoi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 217% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.