Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Xiangtan Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Xiangtan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $706 in Xiangtan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,136 in Xiangtan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,566 in Xiangtan.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 213% more expensive than Xiangtan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Xiangtan is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.80
$2.87 ¥19.43
454.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €56.2
$21.46 ¥145
201.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.12
$4.91 ¥33.22
114.05%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.49
$3.11 ¥21.03
-7.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.95
$0.44 ¥2.97
409.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.29 ¥1.98
417.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.03
$0.88 ¥5.93
296.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.37
$2.06 ¥13.91
88.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.79 ¥12.10
-36.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.52
$1.55 ¥10.50
12.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.52
$0.96 ¥6.49
83.33%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.79
$1.60 ¥10.81
101.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.70
$13.05 ¥88.3
3.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.87
$3.16 ¥21.36
150.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.77
$10.35 ¥70.0
53.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €2.00
$1.81 ¥12.24
27.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$1.22 ¥8.24
39.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.74
$1.53 ¥10.33
31.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.13
$1.09 ¥7.36
125.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.60
$0.70 ¥4.71
162.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.74
$0.97 ¥6.58
106.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.67
$0.57 ¥3.83
238.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.51 ¥3.46
54.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.73
$3.10 ¥21.00
113.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.97
$10.67 ¥72.2
-46.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$0.78 ¥5.31
75.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.58
$1.59 ¥10.77
86.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.06
$0.27 ¥1.81
777.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.52
$16.69 ¥113
172.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.72
$1.41 ¥9.56
204.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.33 ¥2.20
148.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.88
$6.54 ¥44.24
179.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.79
$1.13 ¥7.66
82.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.7K
$19.5K ¥131.8K
75.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €34.1K
$17.2K ¥116.2K
128.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$45.03 ¥305
228.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.80
$9.93 ¥67.2
106.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.37
$11.63 ¥78.7
240.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.51
$41.50 ¥281
15.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.42
$13.78 ¥93.2
37.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.97
$6.00 ¥40.58
53.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €533
$334 ¥2,260
83.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.9K
$16.6K ¥112.2K
-3.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.8
$43.13 ¥292
142.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.49
$30.98 ¥210
35.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €81.5
$71.5 ¥484
31.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €104
$72.6 ¥491
64.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,412
$276 ¥1,869
489.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,089
$193 ¥1,307
549.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,629
$582 ¥3,939
420.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,753
$365 ¥2,470
453.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,766
$3,027 ¥20.5K
157.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,707
$2,018 ¥13.6K
111.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Xiangtan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,391
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.89
-2.06%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Xiangtan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $276 in Xiangtan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $21.00 in Xiangtan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $198 per month, with Xiangtan 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 Xiangtan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Xiangtan?
Lisbon and Xiangtan differ by about 213% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $706 including rent). Xiangtan 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 Xiangtan?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,059 in Xiangtan 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 Xiangtan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $276 in Xiangtan. 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 Xiangtan?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $334 in Xiangtan. 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 36% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $706 in Xiangtan versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Xiangtan but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Xiangtan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Xiangtan?
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 Xiangtan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Xiangtan 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 Xiangtan?
Expats usually find Xiangtan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 213% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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