😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $788 in Dushanbe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,191 in Dushanbe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,594 in Dushanbe, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 191% more than Dushanbe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Dushanbe is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.15
$6.06TJS 56.1
167.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.3
$15.07TJS 139
320.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.02
$8.81TJS 81.5
17.14%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.47
$2.02TJS 18.67
40.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.62TJS 5.77
269.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.30TJS 2.77
426.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.97
$1.22TJS 11.26
178.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.04TJS 18.85
97.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$0.98TJS 9.06
11.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.57TJS 5.27
207.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.95TJS 18.05
-9.74%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.86TJS 17.16
70.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.53
$9.18TJS 84.9
43.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.96
$4.46TJS 41.22
78.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.57
$9.28TJS 85.9
67.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.71TJS 15.86
38.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.56TJS 23.72
-33.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.75
$2.55TJS 23.62
-21.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.12
$1.29TJS 11.95
88.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.79TJS 7.32
122.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.55TJS 5.07
269.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.79TJS 7.27
143.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.64TJS 5.89
32.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.75
$2.52TJS 23.35
161.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.87
$11.28TJS 104
-50.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$1.43TJS 13.27
-6.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.23TJS 20.59
33.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.26TJS 2.42
776.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.01
$9.98TJS 92.3
358.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$0.97TJS 8.96
336.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.27TJS 2.49
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.11
$5.91TJS 54.7
212.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.98TJS 9.04
112.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$18.4KTJS 170.5K
88.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.2K
$25.9KTJS 239.6K
51.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$50.9TJS 470
191.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.88
$13.67TJS 126
49.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.56
$23.90TJS 221
65.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.93
$39.81TJS 368
20.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.25
$9.08TJS 84.0
104.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.06
$4.98TJS 46.08
85.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€538
$101TJS 930
512.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$14.3KTJS 132.2K
14.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.7
$30.38TJS 281
238.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.47
$38.49TJS 356
8.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.8
$75.5TJS 698
25.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$54.2TJS 502
124.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,426
$445TJS 4,118
266.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,077
$235TJS 2,175
423.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,707
$760TJS 7,032
307.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,775
$416TJS 3,847
388.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,842
$1,301TJS 12.0K
502.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,835
$695TJS 6,426
531.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,404
$436TJS 4,029
268.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
25.75
-85.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Dushanbe: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $445 in Dushanbe. 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 269% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $15.00 in Dushanbe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $197 – making Dushanbe 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 Dushanbe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dushanbe cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 191%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $1,182 in Dushanbe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dushanbe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $616 per month in Lisbon and $101 in Dushanbe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Dushanbe?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Dushanbe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dushanbe, where all-in costs run around $788, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Dushanbe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Dushanbe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dushanbe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Dushanbe?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dushanbe. 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.