😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $811 in Ulyanovsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,259 in Ulyanovsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $1,707 in Ulyanovsk.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 186% more expensive than in Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Ulyanovsk is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$11.56₽992
49.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$28.53₽2,448
121.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$5.87₽504
94.04%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$2.40₽206
32.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.00₽85.8
145.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.49₽42.22
259.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.22₽191
61.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$1.71₽147
98.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.06₽91.0
16.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$0.72₽62.2
175.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.21₽104
25.62%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$0.98₽84.1
312.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$11.43₽981
18.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$5.48₽471
53.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$9.44₽810
93.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$1.20₽103
90.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.61₽138
8.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.35₽201
-20.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$2.79₽240
-5.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.96₽82.3
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.65₽55.7
221.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.43₽123
0.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.42₽36.18
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$2.63₽226
157.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$6.89₽592
-17.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$0.70₽59.8
97.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$0.60₽51.3
270.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.41₽35.08
485.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$17.03₽1,461
174.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$1.25₽108
233.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.17₽14.43
570.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$4.83₽414
266.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$0.78₽66.6
197.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$48.9K₽4.2M
-27.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$42.2K₽3.6M
-1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$58.0₽4,978
193.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$5.19₽446
272.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$4.54₽390
640.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$27.89₽2,393
72.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$24.53₽2,105
-18.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$5.53₽474
79.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$175₽15.0K
310.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$29.00₽2,489
261.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$34.14₽2,930
37.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$91.2₽7,830
13.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$57.9₽4,969
114.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$335₽28.7K
401.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$223₽19.2K
469.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$504₽43.2K
492.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$392₽33.6K
408.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$2,021₽173.5K
287.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$1,231₽105.7K
278.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ulyanovsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$613₽52.6K
158.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
23
-83.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ulyanovsk: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $335 in Ulyanovsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 158% 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 $29.00 in Ulyanovsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $189 per month, with Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Ulyanovsk?
Lisbon and Ulyanovsk differ by about 186% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $811 including rent). Ulyanovsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Ulyanovsk?
Average pay runs 158% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Ulyanovsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $335 in Ulyanovsk. 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 Ulyanovsk?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $175 in Ulyanovsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $811 in Ulyanovsk versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ulyanovsk but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ulyanovsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ulyanovsk?
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 Ulyanovsk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk?
Expats usually find Ulyanovsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 186% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.