๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $966 in Makhachkala.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $1,476 in Makhachkala.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $1,987 in Makhachkala.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 134% more expensive than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Makhachkala is 28% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.46
$15.62โฝ1,188
1.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.8
$38.69โฝ2,943
66.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.82
$5.19โฝ395
99.81%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$3.24โฝ246
-10.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$0.84โฝ63.6
165.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.32
$0.35โฝ26.81
342.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.88
$1.37โฝ104
146.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.32
$2.57โฝ195
51.75%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.96
$1.51โฝ115
-25.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$0.65โฝ49.55
176.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$1.38โฝ105
26.81%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.70
$1.38โฝ105
129.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.49
$2.99โฝ227
351.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.63
$4.81โฝ366
61.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.32
$5.05โฝ384
209.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$1.82โฝ138
25.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.77โฝ134
-3.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.65
$2.80โฝ213
-31.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.15
$1.91โฝ145
31.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$0.82โฝ62.2
118.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$0.49โฝ36.98
318.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.65
$2.48โฝ189
-21.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.60โฝ45.39
35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.66
$3.23โฝ245
105.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.92
$8.61โฝ655
-32.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.14
$1.00โฝ76.3
33.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$1.86โฝ142
56.45%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ2.00
$0.42โฝ32.02
459.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.89
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.58
$2.23โฝ170
88.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.22โฝ16.69
268.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.91
$6.50โฝ494
187.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$0.71โฝ53.9
194.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.5K
$35.5Kโฝ2.7M
-2.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$30.0Kโฝ2.3M
32.31%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$54.3โฝ4,130
168.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.73
$6.32โฝ481
229.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.85
$9.94โฝ756
300.20%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.35
$47.60โฝ3,620
2.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.04
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.72
$5.02โฝ382
80.68%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ526
$169โฝ12.9K
264.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.8K
$6,894โฝ524.3K
134.43%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ89.0
$103โฝ7,818
1.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.50
$44.15โฝ3,358
-8.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.8
$104โฝ7,877
-9.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$145โฝ11.1K
-15.71%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,365
$498โฝ37.9K
221.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,073
$304โฝ23.1K
314.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,608
$700โฝ53.2K
337.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,709
$411โฝ31.3K
388.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,555
$1,683โฝ128.0K
357.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,716
$1,217โฝ92.6K
258.81%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,394
$621โฝ47.3K
163.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.33
-66.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $498 in Makhachkala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLisbon pays 164% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $39 in Makhachkala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $168 per month, with Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Makhachkala?
Lisbon and Makhachkala differ by about 134% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $966 including rent). Makhachkala is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Makhachkala?
Lisbon pays 164% 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 do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Makhachkala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $498 in Makhachkala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Makhachkala?
All in, you'll spend $2,258 per month in Lisbon versus $966 in Makhachkala โ a 134% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $966 in Makhachkala versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Makhachkala but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Makhachkala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Makhachkala?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Makhachkala safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Makhachkala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Makhachkala?
Expats usually find Makhachkala gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 134% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.