Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Wenzhou Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Wenzhou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $646 in Wenzhou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,055 in Wenzhou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,465 in Wenzhou.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 242% more expensive than Wenzhou, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Wenzhou is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$2.75 ¥18.57
478.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$26.94 ¥182
140.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$4.85 ¥32.79
116.70%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.78 ¥18.80
3.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.45 ¥3.05
397.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.29 ¥1.97
417.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$0.89 ¥6.04
292.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$1.62 ¥10.97
139.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.03 ¥13.72
-43.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.88 ¥12.70
-6.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.95 ¥6.44
85.26%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.81 ¥12.21
77.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$16.91 ¥114
-20.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$2.62 ¥17.69
201.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$9.58 ¥64.8
65.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.72 ¥11.60
34.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.55 ¥10.45
9.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.66 ¥11.21
21.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.24 ¥8.40
98.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.77 ¥5.23
138.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.00 ¥6.78
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.64 ¥4.32
201.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.49 ¥3.33
61.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$4.09 ¥27.67
61.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$13.06 ¥88.3
-56.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$0.74 ¥5.01
85.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.65 ¥11.15
80.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.29 ¥1.96
717.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$16.94 ¥115
168.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.55 ¥10.49
176.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.35 ¥2.40
134.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$6.37 ¥43.05
187.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.12 ¥7.60
83.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$19.4K ¥131.2K
76.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$15.1K ¥102.2K
160.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$27.98 ¥189
428.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$6.33 ¥42.80
224.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$18.49 ¥125
114.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$12.82 ¥86.7
273.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$24.62 ¥166
-23.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$6.29 ¥42.53
45.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$457 ¥3,090
34.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$9,316 ¥63.0K
72.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$40.61 ¥275
157.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$17.94 ¥121
134.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$70.7 ¥478
32.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$41.94 ¥284
185.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$228 ¥1,541
614.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$156 ¥1,053
705.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$581 ¥3,929
421.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$336 ¥2,273
501.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$4,094 ¥27.7K
90.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$2,658 ¥18.0K
60.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Wenzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$849 ¥5,740
88.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.83
-0.52%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Wenzhou: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $228 in Wenzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 89% 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 $27.00 in Wenzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $219 per month, with Wenzhou 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 Wenzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Wenzhou?
Lisbon and Wenzhou differ by about 242% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $646 including rent). Wenzhou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Wenzhou?
Lisbon pays 89% 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 Wenzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $228 in Wenzhou. 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 Wenzhou?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $457 in Wenzhou. 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 23% 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 $646 in Wenzhou versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Wenzhou but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Wenzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Wenzhou?
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 Wenzhou safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Wenzhou 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 Wenzhou?
Expats usually find Wenzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 242% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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