Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sangju Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sangju

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,418 in Sangju.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,281 in Sangju.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $3,143 in Sangju.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 60% more expensive than Sangju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Sangju 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$8.65 ₩13.1K
84.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$54.3 ₩82.5K
16.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$6.39 ₩9,696
62.44%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$3.83 ₩5,812
-27.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$1.66 ₩2,519
40.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.84 ₩1,277
86.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$3.63 ₩5,508
-5.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$5.79 ₩8,796
-32.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$2.26 ₩3,427
-52.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$3.48 ₩5,279
-49.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$3.13 ₩4,753
-45.37%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$3.16 ₩4,800
-0.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$14.22 ₩21.6K
-3.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$10.70 ₩16.2K
-25.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$34.40 ₩52.2K
-54.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$8.08 ₩12.3K
-71.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$3.47 ₩5,265
-52.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$5.64 ₩8,560
-65.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$6.73 ₩10.2K
-62.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$3.89 ₩5,905
-53.98%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.88 ₩4,370
-30.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$2.58 ₩3,923
-23.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.16 ₩1,768
-27.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$3.27 ₩4,963
107.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$9.85 ₩15.0K
-42.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$2.38 ₩3,615
-41.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$3.27 ₩4,968
-7.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$1.10 ₩1,675
106.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$3.63 ₩5,518
18.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.53 ₩804
60.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$9.03 ₩13.7K
102.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$1.25 ₩1,898
59.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$27.8K ₩42.2M
26.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$24.9K ₩37.7M
59.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$166 ₩252.6K
-12.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$34.50 ₩52.4K
-40.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$22.53 ₩34.2K
73.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$47.18 ₩71.7K
3.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$10.84 ₩16.5K
-12.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$405 ₩615.4K
50.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$23.7K ₩36.1M
-30.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$58.4 ₩88.6K
78.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$46.96 ₩71.3K
-10.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$80.6 ₩122.3K
14.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$49.53 ₩75.2K
142.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$455 ₩690.8K
256.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$380 ₩577.3K
233.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$1,060 ₩1.6M
187.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$758 ₩1.2M
165.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
$9,799 ₩14.9M
-21.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
$5,270 ₩8.0M
-17.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sangju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
$1,235 ₩1.9M
28.29%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sangju: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $455 in Sangju. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 28% 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 $54.0 in Sangju. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 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 Sangju?
Lisbon and Sangju differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,418 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?
Lisbon pays 28% 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 Sangju?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $455 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 78% 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 $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $1,418 in Sangju – a 60% 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 $1,418 in Sangju versus $2,263 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 60% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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