😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $539 in Samarkand.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $895 in Samarkand.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,251 in Samarkand.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 316% more expensive than Samarkand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Samarkand is 60% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.42
$4.72UZS 57.1K
233.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2€53.9
$17.24UZS 208.2K
266.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.80
$4.22UZS 51.0K
144.55%
Cappuccino
$2.81€2.40
$1.80UZS 21.8K
56.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$0.43UZS 5,144
441.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.29
$0.25UZS 3,000
504.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37€2.87
$1.28UZS 15.4K
163.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.34
$2.00UZS 24.2K
95.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.92
$1.05UZS 12.7K
2.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.49
$0.38UZS 4,575
360.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.58UZS 19.1K
10.76%
Eggs
$3.10€2.64
$1.26UZS 15.2K
146.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28€11.33
$7.87UZS 95.1K
68.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85€6.70
$3.73UZS 45.0K
110.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05€13.69
$8.78UZS 106.0K
82.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$0.83UZS 10.0K
187.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.74UZS 21.0K
-1.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.63UZS 19.6K
20.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.50UZS 18.2K
70.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.53
$0.48UZS 5,817
272.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$0.17UZS 2,053
1058.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96€1.67
$0.25UZS 3,035
684.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.71
$0.38UZS 4,570
121.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.82
$1.61UZS 19.4K
323.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€4.99
$3.22UZS 38.9K
81.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$0.96UZS 11.6K
43.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92€2.49
$2.02UZS 24.4K
44.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.95
$0.25UZS 3,034
816.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88€39.99
$3.08UZS 37.3K
1422.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.51
$0.38UZS 4,586
984.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.69
$0.18UZS 2,159
350.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94€16.16
$2.33UZS 28.1K
712.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.78
$0.94UZS 11.4K
122.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$20.0KUZS 241.3M
75.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K€33.9K
$24.8KUZS 299.2M
60.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€128
$38.84UZS 469.1K
285.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49€17.48
$3.58UZS 43.2K
472.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15€33.40
$11.68UZS 141.0K
235.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.35
$36.27UZS 438.1K
36.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47€15.76
$6.40UZS 77.3K
188.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.84
$2.95UZS 35.6K
211.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624€533
$118UZS 1.4M
428.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.6K
$4,645UZS 56.1M
242.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.2
$19.54UZS 236.1K
422.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88€34.87
$39.93UZS 482.2K
2.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7€81.6
$71.2UZS 860.0K
34.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€103
$56.1UZS 677.4K
115.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653€1,410
$227UZS 2.7M
628.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,051
$129UZS 1.6M
858.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043€2,596
$431UZS 5.2M
606.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059€1,756
$298UZS 3.6M
591.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879€6,720
$1,248UZS 15.1M
531.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303€3,671
$546UZS 6.6M
688.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Samarkand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566€1,336
$293UZS 3.5M
433.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
22.07
-82.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Samarkand: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $227 in Samarkand. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 434% 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 in Lisbon vs $17 in Samarkand for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $145 per month, with Samarkand 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 Samarkand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Samarkand?
Lisbon and Samarkand differ by about 316% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $539 including rent). Samarkand is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Samarkand?
Lisbon pays 434% 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 Samarkand?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $227 in Samarkand. 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 Samarkand?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $118 in Samarkand. 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 85% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $539 in Samarkand versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samarkand but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Samarkand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Samarkand?
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 Samarkand safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Samarkand 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 Samarkand?
Expats usually find Samarkand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 316% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.