Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Pyongyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Pyongyang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $245 in Pyongyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $385 in Pyongyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $526 in Pyongyang.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 804% more expensive than Pyongyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Pyongyang is 82% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

$23.41 $23.41

176.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

$1.17 $1.17

145.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 €1.93

$2.25 $2.25

-0.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

$1.14 $1.14

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

$13.65 $13.65

-74.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

$3.43 $3.43

13.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

$0.96 $0.96

18.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

$2.42 $2.42

-27.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

$0.92 $0.92

91.30%

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$2.08 $2.08

54.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.3K €29.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K €33.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €127

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.52 €17.65

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$614 €528

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

$92.6 $92.6

1657.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

$92.0 $92.0

1264.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

$139 $139

1356.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

$253 $253

533.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pyongyang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $92.6 in Pyongyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 533% 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 $23.00 in Pyongyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $46.00 per month, with Pyongyang 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 Pyongyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Pyongyang differ by about 804% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $245 including rent). Pyongyang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 533% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $92.6 in Pyongyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Pyongyang – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $245 in Pyongyang – a 804% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $245 in Pyongyang versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pyongyang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Pyongyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Pyongyang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pyongyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 804% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.