๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $710 in Qinhuangdao.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $1,121 in Qinhuangdao.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $1,532 in Qinhuangdao.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 218% more expensive than Qinhuangdao, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Qinhuangdao is 47% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.43
$2.76ยฅ18.88
473.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.7
$21.40ยฅ146
200.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.80
$4.80ยฅ32.81
116.04%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$3.10ยฅ21.18
-6.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$0.46ยฅ3.14
384.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.31
$0.29ยฅ1.99
434.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.87
$0.87ยฅ5.92
288.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.31
$2.04ยฅ13.93
91.18%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.95
$1.85ยฅ12.63
-39.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$1.61ยฅ11.01
11.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.48
$0.91ยฅ6.23
92.31%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.69
$1.60ยฅ10.94
98.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.46
$12.69ยฅ86.7
6.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.61
$3.25ยฅ22.19
139.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.29
$10.39ยฅ71.0
50.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$1.85ยฅ12.64
23.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.20ยฅ8.16
42.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$1.48ยฅ10.08
30.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.14
$1.13ยฅ7.75
123.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$0.70ยฅ4.81
155.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$0.96ยฅ6.56
113.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.64
$0.60ยฅ4.13
223.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.51ยฅ3.49
58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.65
$3.05ยฅ20.82
118.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.91
$10.63ยฅ72.6
-45.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.13
$0.80ยฅ5.44
66.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$1.66ยฅ11.36
75.30%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ1.99
$0.29ยฅ1.98
710.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.80
$16.54ยฅ113
176.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.57
$1.36ยฅ9.29
208.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.32ยฅ2.22
153.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.88
$6.65ยฅ45.42
181.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.12ยฅ7.67
86.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.4K
$19.0Kยฅ130.0K
81.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$17.6Kยฅ120.0K
125.79%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$45.98ยฅ314
217.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.69
$10.01ยฅ68.4
108.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.77
$11.87ยฅ81.1
235.13%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.25
$42.20ยฅ288
15.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.00
$13.85ยฅ94.6
36.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.70
$6.06ยฅ41.36
49.67%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ525
$332ยฅ2,267
86.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.7K
$16.6Kยฅ113.5K
-2.75%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ88.8
$43.79ยฅ299
138.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.42
$30.93ยฅ211
31.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.6
$71.9ยฅ491
30.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$72.0ยฅ491
70.37%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,362
$276ยฅ1,882
481.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,070
$192ยฅ1,309
557.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,602
$593ยฅ4,050
416.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,705
$354ยฅ2,418
467.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,539
$3,072ยฅ21.0K
150.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,707
$2,018ยฅ13.8K
116.39%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,391
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.89
-2.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Qinhuangdao: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $276 in Qinhuangdao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $21 in Qinhuangdao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $199 per month, with Qinhuangdao 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 Qinhuangdao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Qinhuangdao?
Lisbon and Qinhuangdao differ by about 218% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $710 including rent). Qinhuangdao is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Qinhuangdao?
You'd need roughly $3,387 in Lisbon and $1,066 in Qinhuangdao to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Qinhuangdao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $276 in Qinhuangdao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Qinhuangdao?
Childcare runs $618 in Lisbon versus $332 in Qinhuangdao. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $710 in Qinhuangdao versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Qinhuangdao but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Qinhuangdao the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Qinhuangdao?
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 Qinhuangdao safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Qinhuangdao 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 Qinhuangdao?
Expats usually find Qinhuangdao gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 218% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.