Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Fuzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Fuzhou: $762 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $17,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Fuzhou
🇨🇳 China
$762
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Fuzhou

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Fuzhou actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $762 in Fuzhou.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Fuzhou $762

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $1,227 in Fuzhou.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Fuzhou $1,227

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $1,692 in Fuzhou.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Fuzhou $1,692

Living in Lisbon is roughly 192% more expensive than in Fuzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Fuzhou is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$3.06 ¥20.47
439.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$23.06 ¥154
165.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$5.08 ¥33.98
121.85%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$2.50 ¥16.74
22.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$0.47 ¥3.12
380.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$0.27 ¥1.78
540.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$0.86 ¥5.73
294.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$1.74 ¥11.66
95.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$2.06 ¥13.81
-45.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$1.41 ¥9.43
31.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$0.93 ¥6.23
64.52%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$1.55 ¥10.39
155.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$7.65 ¥51.1
66.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$2.18 ¥14.58
262.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$8.97 ¥60.0
89.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.80 ¥12.07
26.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.32 ¥8.81
32.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.68 ¥11.22
10.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$1.07 ¥7.14
140.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$0.84 ¥5.63
121.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$1.01 ¥6.75
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$0.44 ¥2.93
227.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$0.52 ¥3.49
57.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$3.01 ¥20.13
117.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$10.99 ¥73.5
-48.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$0.72 ¥4.81
77.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$1.22 ¥8.13
69.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$0.29 ¥1.93
710.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$23.66 ¥158
86.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$1.52 ¥10.14
162.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$0.29 ¥1.91
275.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
$7.28 ¥48.68
128.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.25 ¥8.37
82.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$19.4K ¥129.7K
73.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
$15.6K ¥104.1K
152.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$43.17 ¥289
287.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$8.53 ¥57.1
120.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$8.94 ¥59.8
270.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$42.27 ¥283
8.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$14.76 ¥98.7
30.01%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$7.38 ¥49.31
33.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
$209 ¥1,395
224.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$12.1K ¥81.0K
39.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$39.90 ¥267
153.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$29.42 ¥197
55.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$90.5 ¥605
10.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$86.9 ¥581
41.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$458 ¥3,060
252.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$250 ¥1,672
378.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$1,038 ¥6,939
175.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$514 ¥3,438
287.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
$4,514 ¥30.2K
67.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
$2,346 ¥15.7K
83.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fuzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
$1,006 ¥6,728
57.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.46
11.27%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Fuzhou: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Fuzhou
$250 79.1% $947
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Fuzhou
$175 35% $94
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Fuzhou
$80 66.8% $162
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Fuzhou
$61 72.4% $159
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Fuzhou
$111 33.3% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Fuzhou
$57 13.2% $8.7
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Fuzhou
$28 55.9% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $458 in Fuzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 58% 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: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $23.00 in Fuzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $175 per month, with Fuzhou cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇨🇳 Fuzhou
🕒 Local time
19:28 7:28 PM
02:28 2:28 AM
7 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
8,291,268
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Fuzhou 11,040 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Fuzhou

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 192% 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 in Fuzhou?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Lisbon, 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 compared to Fuzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $458 in Fuzhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Fuzhou?
Dining out is cheaper in Fuzhou – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $61.0 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 $2,223 per month in Lisbon versus $762 in Fuzhou – a 192% 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 in Fuzhou?
At $762 in Fuzhou versus $2,223 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 $762 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 192% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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