Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and SangjuCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sangju
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,465 in Sangju.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,319 in Sangju.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $3,173 in Sangju.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 56% more expensive than in Sangju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Sangju10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$8.98₩12.9K
75.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$55.7₩80.1K
13.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$6.34₩9,120
64.83%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$3.91₩5,625
-25.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$1.68₩2,416
36.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.85₩1,227
76.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$3.74₩5,386
-4.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$5.86₩8,431
-32.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$2.23₩3,207
-51.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$3.41₩4,907
-48.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$3.16₩4,552
-46.20%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$3.11₩4,467
4.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$14.44₩20.8K
-8.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$10.99₩15.8K
-29.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$34.47₩49.6K
-54.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$7.75₩11.1K
-70.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$3.50₩5,039
-52.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$5.45₩7,840
-62.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$6.63₩9,529
-62.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$4.03₩5,800
-55.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$2.98₩4,279
-30.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$2.62₩3,775
-24.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$1.15₩1,658
-27.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$3.34₩4,798
96.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$10.09₩14.5K
-44.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$2.44₩3,513
-45.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$3.24₩4,664
-7.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$1.06₩1,528
114.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$3.60₩5,180
17.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.54₩775
57.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$8.59₩12.4K
119.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.24₩1,790
62.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$27.6K₩39.7M
26.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$25.4K₩36.6M
55.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$164₩235.5K
-9.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$34.70₩49.9K
-40.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$22.30₩32.1K
77.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$48.02₩69.1K
0.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$10.99₩15.8K
-17.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$416₩598.6K
47.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$23.4K₩33.6M
-30.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$59.4₩85.4K
71.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$47.59₩68.5K
-11.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$78.9₩113.5K
16.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$49.15₩70.7K
148.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$450₩646.8K
258.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$381₩548.0K
228.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$1,068₩1.5M
187.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$759₩1.1M
168.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$6,556₩9.4M
18.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$4,947₩7.1M
-13.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$1,322₩1.9M
21.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.14
-7.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Sangju: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $450 in Sangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 21% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $56.0 in Sangju. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $479, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Sangju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sangju?
Lisbon and Sangju differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,465 including rent). Sangju is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Sangju?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Sangju?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $450 in Sangju. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 80% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Sangju?
All in, you'll spend $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $1,465 in Sangju – a 56% 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 $1,465 in Sangju versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sangju but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sangju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sangju?
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 Sangju safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sangju 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 Sangju?
Expats usually find Sangju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.