😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $736 in Zhangjiakou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,166 in Zhangjiakou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,597 in Zhangjiakou.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 200% more expensive than Zhangjiakou, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Zhangjiakou is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.80
$2.05¥13.91
676.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
$27.35¥186
136.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.11
$5.68¥38.51
85.04%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$3.16¥21.47
-9.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$0.47¥3.17
376.60%
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
$0.81¥5.52
330.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$1.94¥13.13
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.65¥11.22
-30.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$1.78¥12.06
-1.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$0.95¥6.46
85.26%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$0.94¥6.37
242.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.70
$14.13¥95.8
-4.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.86
$2.73¥18.48
189.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$9.47¥64.3
67.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$1.22¥8.28
89.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$0.88¥5.95
93.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.37¥9.27
46.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$1.08¥7.34
127.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$0.79¥5.36
132.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$0.58¥3.90
244.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
$0.53¥3.61
264.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.83¥5.64
-4.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$3.49¥23.69
89.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.96
$13.41¥91.0
-57.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.20¥8.17
14.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$2.37¥16.06
25.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$0.27¥1.82
777.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.51
$16.55¥112
175.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$0.93¥6.29
361.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$0.30¥2.07
173.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.87
$6.41¥43.50
185.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$1.10¥7.44
87.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$16.5K¥111.8K
107.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$19.5K¥132.5K
101.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$86.8¥588
70.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.79
$6.99¥47.42
193.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.35
$6.80¥46.12
482.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.49
$41.41¥281
15.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.41
$14.16¥96.0
33.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.96
$6.30¥42.72
45.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€532
$316¥2,141
94.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$4,972¥33.7K
222.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
$39.82¥270
162.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.47
$29.45¥200
42.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$76.7¥520
22.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$55.3¥375
116.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$277¥1,881
486.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$186¥1,260
575.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,628
$585¥3,968
417.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,752
$362¥2,458
457.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,764
$3,100¥21.0K
151.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,705
$1,792¥12.2K
138.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,391
$379¥2,569
323.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.35
-12.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Zhangjiakou: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $277 in Zhangjiakou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 323% 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 Zhangjiakou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $202 per month, with Zhangjiakou 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 Zhangjiakou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Zhangjiakou?
Lisbon and Zhangjiakou differ by about 200% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $736 including rent). Zhangjiakou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Zhangjiakou?
Lisbon pays 323% 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 Zhangjiakou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $277 in Zhangjiakou. 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 Zhangjiakou?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $316 in Zhangjiakou. 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 34% 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 $736 in Zhangjiakou versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zhangjiakou but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zhangjiakou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zhangjiakou?
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 Zhangjiakou safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zhangjiakou 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 Zhangjiakou?
Expats usually find Zhangjiakou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 200% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.