😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $979 in Makhachkala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,491 in Makhachkala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,002 in Makhachkala.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 126% more expensive than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Makhachkala is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$15.31₽1,125
3.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$38.77₽2,848
67.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$5.20₽382
102.12%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.12₽229
-8.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.84₽62.0
166.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.35₽25.81
328.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$1.36₽99.6
156.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.50₽184
55.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.51₽111
-24.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.60₽44.23
191.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.38₽101
27.54%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.37₽101
135.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$2.97₽218
354.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.80₽353
64.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$4.92₽361
222.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.74₽128
32.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.75₽129
-2.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.72₽200
-26.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.89₽139
30.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.88₽64.5
109.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.49₽35.84
308.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$2.36₽173
-18.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.59₽43.05
33.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$3.19₽234
107.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$4.22₽310
35.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.04₽76.4
31.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.85₽136
60.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.43₽31.44
451.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.22
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.22₽163
93.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.21₽15.53
290.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$6.18₽454
196.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.70₽51.3
194.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.3K₽2.6M
-2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$30.3K₽2.2M
29.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$54.9₽4,033
169.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$6.13₽450
234.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.10
$9.84₽723
302.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.19
$46.58₽3,421
2.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$5.02₽369
82.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$166₽12.2K
269.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$7,077₽519.9K
126.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$106₽7,777
-1.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.21
$44.24₽3,250
-4.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$105₽7,704
-10.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$145₽10.7K
-17.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,401
$501₽36.8K
224.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$305₽22.4K
312.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$698₽51.2K
334.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,739
$399₽29.3K
405.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,715
$1,789₽131.4K
336.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,678
$1,289₽94.7K
231.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,380
$860₽63.1K
86.56%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $501 in Makhachkala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 87% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $39.00 in Makhachkala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 Makhachkala?
Lisbon and Makhachkala differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $979 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?
Lisbon pays 87% 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: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $501 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 72% 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 $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $979 in Makhachkala – a 126% 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 $979 in Makhachkala versus $2,210 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 126% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.