Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Semey Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Semey

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $689 in Semey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,093 in Semey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,497 in Semey.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 228% more expensive than Semey, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Semey is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94 €13.73
$4.49 ₸2,194
255.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 €54.6
$27.81 ₸13.6K
127.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.95
$4.86 ₸2,375
113.58%
Cappuccino
$2.79 €2.40
$1.59 ₸775
75.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.01
$0.92 ₸448
154.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.55 ₸269
185.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$1.18 ₸578
190.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 €3.37
$1.81 ₸886
116.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$0.68 ₸332
58.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$0.32 ₸156
453.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.60 ₸780
6.87%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.71
$1.28 ₸623
146.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.68 €11.79
$8.91 ₸4,350
53.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.90
$4.63 ₸2,262
73.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.52 €13.37
$7.05 ₸3,441
120.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$1.34 ₸655
70.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.95 ₸950
-15.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$1.93 ₸943
0.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.51 €2.17
$1.91 ₸933
31.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$0.55 ₸266
225.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$0.38 ₸184
428.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.69
$0.94 ₸461
109.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$0.76 ₸372
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.85
$2.57 ₸1,253
164.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €4.89
$6.68 ₸3,263
-15.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$0.98 ₸479
41.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 €2.60
$1.54 ₸753
96.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.95
$0.22 ₸109
931.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.44 €39.15
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.70
$0.95 ₸465
351.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.67 ₸326
26.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.28 €15.75
$4.76 ₸2,326
284.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.71
$0.47 ₸228
323.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.2K
$20.4K ₸10.0M
71.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K €34.1K
$24.6K ₸12.0M
60.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 €126
$50.4 ₸24.6K
189.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45 €17.62
$8.66 ₸4,232
136.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98 €33.58
$12.96 ₸6,330
200.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.98 €42.21
$33.37 ₸16.3K
46.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83 €16.22
$9.92 ₸4,846
89.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52 €8.21
$4.35 ₸2,125
118.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 €524
$212 ₸103.6K
186.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.5K €14.2K
$4,930 ₸2.4M
234.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.5
$57.1 ₸27.9K
81.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 €36.29
$34.79 ₸17.0K
21.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 €79.5
$87.3 ₸42.6K
5.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$78.4 ₸38.3K
53.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 €1,397
$320 ₸156.2K
407.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,268 €1,092
$199 ₸97.4K
535.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,048 €2,626
$518 ₸252.9K
488.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,009 €1,731
$395 ₸192.9K
408.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,663 €6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,329 €3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Semey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,585 €1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
18.39
-79.28%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Last update for Semey: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $320 in Semey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Semey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $165 per month, with Semey 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 Semey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Semey?
Lisbon and Semey differ by about 228% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $689 including rent). Semey 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 Semey?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $1,034 in Semey 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 Semey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $320 in Semey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Semey?
All in, you'll spend $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $689 in Semey – a 228% 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 $689 in Semey versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Semey but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Semey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Semey?
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 Semey safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Semey 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 Semey?
Expats usually find Semey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 228% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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