😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $725 in Qinhuangdao.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $1,135 in Qinhuangdao.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $1,544 in Qinhuangdao.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 205% more expensive than in Qinhuangdao, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Qinhuangdao is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.80
$2.80¥18.97
461.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.2
$21.93¥148
186.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.25
$5.00¥33.85
110.60%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$3.04¥20.57
-5.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.98
$0.47¥3.18
378.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.37
$0.29¥1.97
437.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.98
$0.88¥5.98
285.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.42
$2.06¥13.95
89.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$1.87¥12.64
-42.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.52
$1.63¥11.01
6.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$0.91¥6.13
93.41%
Eggs
$3.16€2.78
$1.52¥10.31
107.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.68
$12.82¥86.8
3.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.92
$3.12¥21.12
152.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.92
$10.32¥69.8
53.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$1.81¥12.23
32.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.50
$1.22¥8.24
39.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.54¥10.41
31.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$1.14¥7.71
121.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$0.75¥5.09
148.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$0.95¥6.45
116.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.76
$0.57¥3.84
250.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.69
$0.51¥3.43
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.84
$3.08¥20.82
115.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.08
$10.62¥71.9
-45.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.22
$0.78¥5.28
76.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.65
$1.59¥10.73
89.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.05
$0.27¥1.82
762.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.94
$16.61¥112
173.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.58
$1.43¥9.68
185.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$0.32¥2.20
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.38
$6.66¥45.10
180.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.76
$1.13¥7.68
76.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.1K
$19.8K¥133.9K
78.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.3K
$17.1K¥115.5K
128.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$44.27¥300
239.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.06
$9.55¥64.6
115.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.66
$11.58¥78.4
240.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.23
$41.46¥281
15.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.43
$13.96¥94.5
33.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.17
$5.94¥40.22
56.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€552
$333¥2,256
88.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.5K
$17.1K¥115.7K
-3.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.2
$43.29¥293
134.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.51
$30.89¥209
34.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.3
$73.0¥494
26.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€108
$70.5¥477
73.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,430
$273¥1,848
495.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,083
$191¥1,293
545.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,747
$580¥3,925
438.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,808
$366¥2,473
463.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,821
$3,051¥20.6K
154.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,854
$2,037¥13.8K
115.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Qinhuangdao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,425
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.89
-2.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Last update for Qinhuangdao: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $273 in Qinhuangdao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Qinhuangdao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 in Qinhuangdao?
Lisbon and Qinhuangdao differ by about 205% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $725 including rent). Qinhuangdao is meaningfully more affordable – 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 $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,088 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 in Qinhuangdao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $273 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 $628 in Lisbon versus $333 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 $725 in Qinhuangdao versus $2,210 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 – 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 – expenses run 205% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.