Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Jilin

For one person, living is cheaper in Jilin: $722 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Jilin, China
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Jilin
🇨🇳 China
$722
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Jilin

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 Jilin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $722 in Jilin, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Jilin $722

A couple spends around $3,275 per month in Lisbon vs $1,195 in Jilin, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Jilin $1,195

A family of three spends $4,341 per month in Lisbon vs $1,669 in Jilin, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Jilin $1,669

Lisbon costs about 206% more than Jilin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lisbon sits 62% above the global median, while Jilin is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$3.05 ¥20.31
445.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$22.62 ¥151
172.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$5.17 ¥34.37
119.73%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$3.43 ¥22.83
-13.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$0.44 ¥2.96
420.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$0.27 ¥1.80
544.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$1.09 ¥7.24
211.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$2.31 ¥15.39
43.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.75 ¥11.64
-33.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$1.61 ¥10.70
18.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$0.99 ¥6.59
52.53%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$1.57 ¥10.46
156.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$15.29 ¥102
-15.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$3.12 ¥20.73
149.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$11.08 ¥73.7
60.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$1.88 ¥12.51
22.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$1.27 ¥8.44
36.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$1.47 ¥9.79
26.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$1.29 ¥8.62
100.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$0.66 ¥4.38
175.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$1.02 ¥6.79
93.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$0.59 ¥3.96
149.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.59 ¥3.91
22.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$3.77 ¥25.12
74.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$10.21 ¥68.0
-45.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$0.76 ¥5.07
78.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$1.60 ¥10.65
33.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$0.34 ¥2.28
585.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
$17.48 ¥116
155.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$1.08 ¥7.17
256.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.26 ¥1.73
311.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
$7.13 ¥47.44
130.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$1.27 ¥8.43
73.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$19.8K ¥132.1K
72.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$17.6K ¥116.9K
120.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$61.3 ¥408
163.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$8.26 ¥55.0
122.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$10.67 ¥71.0
206.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$39.37 ¥262
13.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$16.99 ¥113
12.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$6.41 ¥42.67
49.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$440 ¥2,930
51.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$17.7K ¥117.5K
-0.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$42.55 ¥283
139.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$32.53 ¥217
36.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$76.4 ¥508
28.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$76.0 ¥506
62.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$244 ¥1,623
559.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$163 ¥1,085
630.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$584 ¥3,884
381.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$406 ¥2,704
395.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$3,551 ¥23.6K
120.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$2,139 ¥14.2K
113.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Jilin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$441 ¥2,935
257.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.36
14.58%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Jilin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Jilin
$163 86.3% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Jilin
$209 23.3% $64
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Jilin
$94 61.3% $149
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Jilin
$80 62.2% $132
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Jilin
$102 38.3% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Jilin
$52 18.1% $12
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Jilin
$21 66.4% $42

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Lisbon versus $244 in Jilin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Lisbon are about 3.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Lisbon versus $23 in Jilin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $209 – making Jilin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇨🇳 Jilin
🕒 Local time
22:54 10:54 PM
06:54 6:54 AM
8 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
3,623,713
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.41 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Jilin 9,810 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Jilin

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 Jilin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Jilin?
Lisbon costs about 206% more than Jilin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Jilin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,083 in Jilin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Jilin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jilin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $244 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Jilin?
Kindergarten costs $668 per month in Lisbon and $440 in Jilin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Jilin?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Lisbon, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Lisbon or in Jilin?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Jilin, where all-in costs run around $722, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Jilin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Jilin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Jilin?
If budget matters most, go with Jilin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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