Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Fuzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Fuzhou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $791 in Fuzhou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,278 in Fuzhou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,766 in Fuzhou.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 179% more expensive than Fuzhou, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Fuzhou is 41% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$2.78 ¥18.79
472.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$22.62 ¥153
186.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$5.37 ¥36.29
95.72%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.86 ¥19.31
0.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.40 ¥2.74
460.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.25 ¥1.69
500.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$0.83 ¥5.61
320.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.71 ¥11.57
126.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.88 ¥12.70
-39.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.27 ¥8.57
37.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.80 ¥5.42
120.00%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.33 ¥8.99
142.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$11.61 ¥78.5
16.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.97 ¥33.59
59.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$13.03 ¥88.1
21.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.21 ¥14.96
4.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.32 ¥8.94
28.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.82 ¥12.32
10.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.23 ¥8.31
100.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.67 ¥4.54
174.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.05 ¥7.13
90.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.59 ¥3.96
227.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.48 ¥3.21
64.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$2.75 ¥18.59
140.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$11.20 ¥75.8
-48.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$0.75 ¥5.08
82.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.00 ¥6.74
197.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.27 ¥1.80
777.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$41.41 ¥280
10.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.37 ¥9.27
213.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.28 ¥1.92
192.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$6.83 ¥46.20
167.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.14 ¥7.70
80.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$21.1K ¥143.0K
62.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$17.4K ¥117.6K
125.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$38.75 ¥262
281.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$9.73 ¥65.8
110.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$7.45 ¥50.4
431.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$45.08 ¥305
6.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$14.13 ¥95.5
33.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$6.80 ¥45.97
35.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$227 ¥1,533
170.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$9,287 ¥62.8K
72.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$54.7 ¥370
91.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$27.46 ¥186
53.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$80.2 ¥542
17.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$89.2 ¥603
34.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$354 ¥2,391
360.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$224 ¥1,515
460.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$825 ¥5,577
267.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$416 ¥2,814
385.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$4,592 ¥31.1K
69.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$2,335 ¥15.8K
82.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$972 ¥6,573
64.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.56
7.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Fuzhou: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $354 in Fuzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 65% 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 Fuzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $211 per month, with Fuzhou 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 Fuzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Fuzhou?
Fuzhou wins on cost – living expenses run 179% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fuzhou the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Fuzhou?
Lisbon pays 65% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Fuzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $354 in Fuzhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Fuzhou?
Dining out is cheaper in Fuzhou – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Fuzhou?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $791 in Fuzhou – a 179% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or Fuzhou?
At $791 in Fuzhou versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fuzhou but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Fuzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Fuzhou?
Both work as nomad bases, but Fuzhou delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $791 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fuzhou hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Fuzhou?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Fuzhou 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fuzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 179% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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