😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,664 in Seongnam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,474 in Seongnam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $3,283 in Seongnam.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 37% more expensive than in Seongnam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Seongnam25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$5.81₩8,359
171.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$41.83₩60.2K
51.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$4.43₩6,376
135.89%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$3.97₩5,705
-26.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$1.53₩2,199
49.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.79₩1,138
89.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$2.65₩3,806
34.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$3.58₩5,151
10.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$2.14₩3,074
-49.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$2.06₩2,962
-14.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$3.14₩4,522
-45.86%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$3.19₩4,588
1.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$9.34₩13.4K
41.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$7.81₩11.2K
-1.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$33.54₩48.2K
-52.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$7.50₩10.8K
-69.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$3.46₩4,976
-52.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$5.64₩8,113
-64.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$6.60₩9,490
-62.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$3.51₩5,044
-49.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$2.85₩4,102
-27.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$2.51₩3,604
-21.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.96₩1,382
-13.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$3.39₩4,878
93.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$17.05₩24.5K
-67.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.85₩2,662
-28.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.86₩2,671
61.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$1.10₩1,575
106.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$3.64₩5,228
16.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.53₩769
60.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$8.89₩12.8K
111.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.19₩1,708
69.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$27.2K₩39.1M
28.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$25.2K₩36.2M
57.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$167₩239.5K
-11.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$34.40₩49.5K
-40.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$21.95₩31.6K
80.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$47.71₩68.6K
0.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$11.20₩16.1K
-18.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$413₩593.6K
48.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$23.2K₩33.4M
-29.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$58.1₩83.5K
74.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$47.33₩68.1K
-11.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$80.4₩115.7K
14.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$118₩169.0K
3.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$442₩636.4K
264.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$671₩964.7K
86.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$1,073₩1.5M
185.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$1,008₩1.5M
101.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$7,307₩10.5M
6.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$5,184₩7.5M
-17.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Seongnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
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 Seongnam: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $442 in Seongnam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $42.00 in Seongnam. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $434, 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 Seongnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Seongnam?
Lisbon and Seongnam differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,664 including rent). Seongnam 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 Seongnam?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $2,496 in Seongnam 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 Seongnam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $442 in Seongnam. 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 63% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Seongnam?
All in, you'll spend $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $1,664 in Seongnam – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,664 in Seongnam versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Seongnam but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Seongnam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Seongnam?
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 Seongnam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Seongnam 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 Seongnam?
Expats usually find Seongnam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.