😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $710 in Zaozhuang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,129 in Zaozhuang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,549 in Zaozhuang.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 221% more expensive than in Zaozhuang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Zaozhuang is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.74
$2.75¥18.56
472.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.3
$20.73¥140
206.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.11
$4.91¥33.13
112.83%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.54
$2.95¥19.95
-1.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.47¥3.14
387.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$0.29¥1.97
417.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.11
$0.93¥6.28
282.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$2.05¥13.83
93.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.77¥11.95
-38.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.54
$1.53¥10.36
15.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$0.92¥6.19
84.78%
Eggs
$3.25€2.83
$1.62¥10.94
100.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.55
$13.06¥88.2
1.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.72
$3.16¥21.37
143.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.75
$10.38¥70.1
51.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$1.80¥12.13
26.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$1.20¥8.11
38.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$1.36¥9.21
48.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$1.09¥7.39
126.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$0.72¥4.87
148.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$0.90¥6.08
130.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$0.56¥3.81
251.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$0.55¥3.68
50.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.71
$3.07¥20.77
113.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.85
$9.82¥66.3
-43.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$0.76¥5.10
75.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$1.67¥11.26
80.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.98
$0.29¥1.97
682.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.41
$16.41¥111
182.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$1.37¥9.26
208.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.36¥2.40
136.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.41
$6.54¥44.18
187.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.76
$1.13¥7.67
78.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$19.5K¥131.4K
79.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$16.4K¥110.7K
141.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$46.48¥314
218.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.89
$9.71¥65.6
111.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.46
$11.62¥78.5
240.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.00
$41.23¥279
16.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.03
$14.06¥95.0
30.80%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.93
$6.29¥42.46
44.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€536
$330¥2,228
86.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$16.9K¥114.4K
-3.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$43.36¥293
134.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.69
$30.09¥203
39.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.5
$72.6¥490
27.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$73.1¥494
67.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,405
$278¥1,875
480.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,093
$191¥1,292
555.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,676
$583¥3,936
426.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,776
$356¥2,405
472.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,757
$3,444¥23.3K
125.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,737
$2,150¥14.5K
99.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zaozhuang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,396
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.87
-1.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Zaozhuang: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $278 in Zaozhuang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $21.00 in Zaozhuang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $196 per month, with Zaozhuang 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 Zaozhuang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Zaozhuang?
Lisbon and Zaozhuang differ by about 221% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $710 including rent). Zaozhuang 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 Zaozhuang?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,065 in Zaozhuang 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 in Zaozhuang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $278 in Zaozhuang. 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 Zaozhuang?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $330 in Zaozhuang. 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 $1,000 per month?
At $710 in Zaozhuang versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zaozhuang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zaozhuang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zaozhuang?
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 Zaozhuang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zaozhuang 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 Zaozhuang?
Expats usually find Zaozhuang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 221% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.