😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $976 in Ulan Ude.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,502 in Ulan Ude.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,029 in Ulan Ude.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 126% more expensive than Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Ulan Ude is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$9.76₽712
63.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$37.64₽2,747
72.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$5.88₽429
78.74%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.29₽167
25.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.19₽87.2
88.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.52₽37.76
188.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.35₽98.9
158.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.61₽190
48.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.15₽83.7
-0.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.44₽32.07
297.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.39₽101
26.62%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.79₽131
79.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$10.97₽801
22.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.82₽352
64.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$8.72₽636
82.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.80₽132
28.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.80₽131
-5.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.89₽138
6.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.77₽202
-11.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.85₽62.0
116.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.71₽51.7
181.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.42₽104
35.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.70₽51.3
12.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.93₽214
125.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$7.11₽519
-19.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.03₽74.9
33.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.94₽142
53.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.53₽39.03
347.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.92₽140
123.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.32₽23.59
156.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$6.49₽474
181.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.79₽57.9
160.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$34.7K₽2.5M
-1.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$35.2K₽2.6M
11.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$109₽7,921
36.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$6.09₽445
236.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$7.67₽560
416.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$36.08₽2,634
32.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$5.13₽375
78.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$324₽23.7K
89.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$6,896₽503.3K
132.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$71.2₽5,199
46.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$44.84₽3,273
-6.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$115₽8,389
-18.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$106₽7,729
13.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$439₽32.1K
270.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$310₽22.6K
305.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$754₽55.0K
301.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$511₽37.3K
295.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$2,532₽184.8K
208.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$1,966₽143.5K
117.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ulan Ude
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$703₽51.3K
127.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
18.33
-79.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ulan Ude: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $439 in Ulan Ude. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 128% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $38.00 in Ulan Ude for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $194 per month, with Ulan Ude 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 Ulan Ude: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Ulan Ude?
Lisbon and Ulan Ude differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $976 including rent). Ulan Ude is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Ulan Ude?
Lisbon pays 128% 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 Ulan Ude?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $439 in Ulan Ude. 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 39% 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 Ulan Ude?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $976 in Ulan Ude – a 126% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $976 in Ulan Ude versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ulan Ude but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ulan Ude the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ulan Ude?
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 Ulan Ude safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ulan Ude 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 Ulan Ude?
Expats usually find Ulan Ude gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.