Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and SuwonCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Suwon
Monthly Cost of Living
๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,393 in Suwon.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,096 in Suwon.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $2,798 in Suwon.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 60% more expensive than Suwon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Suwon4% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17โฌ13.79
$7.44โฉ11.0K
117.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6โฌ55.1
$29.14โฉ42.9K
121.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38โฌ8.85
$5.07โฉ7,472
104.73%
Cappuccino
$2.77โฌ2.37
$3.55โฉ5,225
-21.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25โฌ1.92
$1.54โฉ2,274
46.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57โฌ1.34
$0.68โฉ1,006
130.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49โฌ2.98
$3.73โฉ5,497
-6.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00โฌ3.42
$4.34โฉ6,391
-7.83%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$2.16โฉ3,190
-50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74โฌ1.48
$2.26โฉ3,333
-23.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74โฌ1.48
$3.21โฉ4,734
-45.79%
Eggs
$3.18โฌ2.71
$2.41โฉ3,546
31.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43โฌ11.46
$10.82โฉ15.9K
24.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99โฌ6.82
$10.73โฉ15.8K
-25.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09โฌ13.73
$12.05โฉ17.8K
33.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.95
$5.53โฉ8,154
-58.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$2.78โฉ4,089
-38.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94โฌ1.66
$5.23โฉ7,702
-62.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54โฌ2.17
$2.56โฉ3,767
-0.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83โฌ1.56
$4.01โฉ5,915
-54.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04โฌ1.74
$2.24โฉ3,295
-8.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98โฌ1.69
$2.59โฉ3,811
-23.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85โฌ0.73
$0.90โฉ1,320
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85โฌ5.85
$3.25โฉ4,785
110.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78โฌ4.93
$12.41โฉ18.3K
-53.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37โฌ1.17
$2.04โฉ3,009
-32.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90โฌ2.47
$2.16โฉ3,183
34.26%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28โฌ1.95
$1.21โฉ1,782
88.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84โฌ39.96
$47.80โฉ70.4K
-2.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08โฌ3.48
$2.73โฉ4,015
49.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82โฌ0.70
$0.56โฉ828
46.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27โฌ15.58
$8.57โฉ12.6K
113.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01โฌ1.71
$1.25โฉ1,835
60.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3Kโฌ30.1K
$28.2Kโฉ41.5M
25.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5Kโฌ32.8K
$13.9Kโฉ20.4M
177.54%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145โฌ124
$165โฉ242.5K
-11.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96โฌ17.88
$34.89โฉ51.4K
-39.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05โฌ34.17
$21.97โฉ32.4K
82.29%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79โฌ41.61
$45.83โฉ67.5K
6.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69โฌ15.95
$14.48โฉ21.3K
29.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06โฌ7.73
$11.22โฉ16.5K
-19.25%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607โฌ517
$420โฉ619.1K
44.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3Kโฌ13.9K
$23.5Kโฉ34.6M
-30.54%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ89.3
$34.24โฉ50.4K
205.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95โฌ34.93
$48.28โฉ71.1K
-15.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6โฌ79.8
$79.4โฉ116.9K
17.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119โฌ101
$26.84โฉ39.5K
341.69%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,368
$444โฉ654.8K
260.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236โฌ1,054
$445โฉ655.9K
177.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046โฌ2,598
$916โฉ1.4M
232.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057โฌ1,754
$867โฉ1.3M
137.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709โฌ6,576
$10.8Kโฉ16.0M
-28.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266โฌ3,639
$6,590โฉ9.7M
-35.26%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Suwon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584โฌ1,351
$2,276โฉ3.4M
-30.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.14
-7.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Suwon: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $444 in Suwon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSuwon pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $65 in Lisbon vs $29 in Suwon. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $344, 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 Suwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Suwon?
Lisbon and Suwon differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,393 including rent). Suwon is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Suwon earns 44% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Suwon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $444 in Suwon. 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 Suwon?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $420 in Suwon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,393 in Suwon versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Suwon but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Suwon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Suwon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Suwon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Suwon 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 Suwon?
Expats usually find Suwon gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 60% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.