😐A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $789 in Dushanbe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $1,206 in Dushanbe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $1,624 in Dushanbe, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 180% more than Dushanbe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 65% 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
$15.91€13.69
$5.80TJS 53.6
174.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$15.03TJS 139
330.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$8.70TJS 80.4
20.80%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.06TJS 19.07
39.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.67TJS 6.18
234.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.32TJS 2.98
368.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.16TJS 10.70
200.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.00TJS 18.49
94.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.98TJS 9.08
16.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.57TJS 5.29
207.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.91TJS 17.69
-7.85%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.79TJS 16.55
79.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$8.98TJS 83.0
50.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.58TJS 42.36
72.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$9.09TJS 84.0
74.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.67TJS 15.44
38.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.62TJS 24.18
-35.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.55TJS 23.56
-21.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.28TJS 11.83
92.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.74TJS 6.83
148.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.58TJS 5.36
244.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.83TJS 7.69
132.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.63TJS 5.84
25.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.46TJS 22.71
168.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$10.33TJS 95.5
-44.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.50TJS 13.84
-8.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.25TJS 20.76
32.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.24TJS 2.21
887.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$10.06TJS 93.0
352.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.00TJS 9.26
329.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.27TJS 2.47
203.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$6.09TJS 56.3
200.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.97TJS 8.94
112.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$18.1KTJS 167.7K
88.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$25.8KTJS 238.3K
52.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$50.7TJS 468
191.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$13.45TJS 124
52.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$24.21TJS 224
63.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$40.00TJS 370
19.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$8.91TJS 82.4
112.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$4.89TJS 45.22
87.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$102TJS 941
503.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$14.4KTJS 132.9K
11.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$30.80TJS 285
239.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$38.42TJS 355
9.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$74.9TJS 692
25.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$55.2TJS 510
116.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$439TJS 4,056
270.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$230TJS 2,129
445.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$733TJS 6,778
313.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$419TJS 3,873
382.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$1,257TJS 11.6K
520.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$711TJS 6,570
501.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Dushanbe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$478TJS 4,417
235.52%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Dushanbe: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $439 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 236% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $15.00 in Dushanbe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $195 – 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 180%, 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 $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,183 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 $614 per month in Lisbon and $102 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 Dushanbe?
Groceries cost about 38% 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 Lisbon or Dushanbe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dushanbe, where all-in costs run around $789, than in Lisbon at $2,210. 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.