😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $958 in Makhachkala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,485 in Makhachkala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,011 in Makhachkala.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 139% more expensive than in Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Makhachkala is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$15.57₽1,223
3.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$39.54₽3,107
60.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$5.20₽409
98.46%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.30₽259
-14.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.80₽62.6
186.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.35₽27.76
351.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.42₽112
139.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$2.50₽196
61.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.50₽118
-27.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.65₽51.2
169.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.43₽112
23.08%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.37₽108
131.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$3.09₽243
326.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$4.73₽372
68.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$5.00₽393
210.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.81₽142
30.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.68₽132
1.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.75₽216
-26.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.82₽143
33.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.83₽65.2
112.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.45₽35.16
351.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.43₽191
-20.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.58₽45.63
46.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$3.14₽247
109.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$3.82₽300
46.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.04₽81.4
27.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.95₽153
52.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.40₽31.36
470.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.24₽176
88.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.18₽14.02
350.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$6.51₽511
183.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.71₽55.8
192.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$36.0K₽2.8M
-3.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$31.0K₽2.4M
26.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$54.2₽4,257
173.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$6.31₽496
224.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$9.63₽757
310.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$46.00₽3,613
4.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$5.09₽400
81.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$164₽12.9K
274.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$6,965₽547.2K
136.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$104₽8,179
-1.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$45.22₽3,552
-7.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$104₽8,209
-9.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$144₽11.3K
-15.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$497₽39.0K
228.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$298₽23.4K
314.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$720₽56.6K
330.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$402₽31.6K
405.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$1,666₽130.9K
369.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$1,210₽95.1K
262.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$830₽65.2K
93.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.33
-66.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Makhachkala: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $497 in Makhachkala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 94% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $40.00 in Makhachkala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $157 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 in Makhachkala?
Lisbon and Makhachkala differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $958 including rent). Makhachkala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Makhachkala?
Average pay runs 94% 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 do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Makhachkala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $497 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 71% 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 $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $958 in Makhachkala – a 139% 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 $958 in Makhachkala versus $2,291 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 – 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 – expenses run 139% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.