😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $712 in Xiangyang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,119 in Xiangyang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,526 in Xiangyang.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 210% more expensive than Xiangyang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Xiangyang is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.80
$2.86¥19.37
456.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
$21.70¥147
198.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.12
$5.01¥33.90
109.78%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$3.01¥20.34
-4.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$0.43¥2.94
420.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.27¥1.82
455.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$0.89¥6.04
292.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$2.15¥14.53
80.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.86¥12.58
-38.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$1.55¥10.52
12.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$0.90¥6.08
95.56%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$1.53¥10.35
110.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.70
$12.61¥85.3
6.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.87
$3.25¥22.01
143.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$10.09¥68.3
57.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$1.88¥12.73
22.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.25¥8.48
36.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.52¥10.30
32.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$1.10¥7.44
123.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$0.70¥4.71
162.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$0.89¥6.05
124.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
$0.59¥4.02
227.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.55¥3.73
43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$3.19¥21.62
107.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.97
$10.40¥70.4
-45.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.79¥5.32
73.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$1.64¥11.11
81.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$0.29¥1.98
717.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.52
$16.78¥114
171.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$1.37¥9.30
213.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$0.33¥2.22
148.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.88
$6.82¥46.17
168.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$1.12¥7.57
83.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$19.5K¥131.8K
75.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$17.2K¥116.5K
128.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$44.80¥303
230.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
$10.09¥68.3
103.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.37
$11.65¥78.8
240.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.51
$41.85¥283
14.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.42
$14.15¥95.7
33.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.97
$6.03¥40.81
52.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€533
$338¥2,285
81.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$16.7K¥112.9K
-3.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
$43.77¥296
139.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.49
$30.59¥207
37.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$71.9¥486
30.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$72.4¥490
65.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Xiangyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$276¥1,866
490.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$193¥1,308
549.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,629
$603¥4,078
402.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,753
$358¥2,420
464.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,766
$3,069¥20.8K
154.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,707
$2,067¥14.0K
106.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Xiangyang
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 Xiangyang: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $276 in Xiangyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $22.00 in Xiangyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $198 per month, with Xiangyang 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 Xiangyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Xiangyang?
Lisbon and Xiangyang differ by about 210% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $712 including rent). Xiangyang 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 Xiangyang?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,068 in Xiangyang 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 Xiangyang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $276 in Xiangyang. 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 Xiangyang?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $338 in Xiangyang. 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 $712 in Xiangyang versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Xiangyang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Xiangyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Xiangyang?
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 Xiangyang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Xiangyang 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 Xiangyang?
Expats usually find Xiangyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 210% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.