Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Karamay Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Karamay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $703 in Karamay, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,126 in Karamay, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,549 in Karamay, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 226% more than Karamay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Karamay is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.17
$2.76 ¥18.70
486.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.4
$20.48 ¥139
209.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.03
$4.83 ¥32.69
113.66%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.95 ¥19.96
-4.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$0.43 ¥2.93
432.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.27 ¥1.81
485.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$0.87 ¥5.86
290.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$2.08 ¥14.07
93.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.85 ¥12.53
-41.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.55 ¥10.47
12.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.90 ¥6.07
95.56%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$1.59 ¥10.73
99.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.54
$12.69 ¥85.9
3.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.97
$3.13 ¥21.20
154.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.59
$10.29 ¥69.7
50.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.72 ¥11.67
37.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.26 ¥8.54
35.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.37 ¥9.28
46.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.10 ¥7.42
120.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.72 ¥4.86
144.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$0.92 ¥6.22
120.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.55 ¥3.75
249.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.50 ¥3.41
70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$3.04 ¥20.59
116.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.88
$11.52 ¥78.0
-51.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$0.78 ¥5.30
70.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.59 ¥10.77
86.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.29 ¥1.96
686.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.06
$16.73 ¥113
173.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$1.43 ¥9.68
195.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.36 ¥2.41
125.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.13
$6.71 ¥45.40
174.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.18 ¥8.01
76.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$19.4K ¥131.4K
78.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$16.4K ¥111.1K
138.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$46.38 ¥314
219.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.90
$9.71 ¥65.7
110.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.61
$11.75 ¥79.5
236.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.99
$41.33 ¥280
16.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.27
$14.00 ¥94.8
32.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.07
$6.23 ¥42.19
47.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €539
$342 ¥2,313
80.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$17.3K ¥116.9K
-4.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.9
$43.22 ¥292
137.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.52
$30.04 ¥203
38.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.9
$71.4 ¥483
32.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$75.4 ¥510
61.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,428
$278 ¥1,881
487.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,078
$188 ¥1,269
557.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,711
$588 ¥3,980
426.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,777
$356 ¥2,410
470.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,851
$3,086 ¥20.9K
153.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,840
$1,820 ¥12.3K
141.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Karamay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,406
$591 ¥4,001
171.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.87
-1.55%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Karamay: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $278 in Karamay. 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 172% 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 $20.00 in Karamay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $198 – making Karamay 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 Karamay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karamay cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 226%, 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 $1,055 in Karamay. 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 Karamay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Karamay?
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 eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Karamay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $20.00 in Karamay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Karamay?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Karamay, where all-in costs run around $703, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Karamay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Karamay more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karamay – 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 Karamay?
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 Karamay. 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.

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