๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,258 in Lisbon versus $737 in Zhangjiakou.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Lisbon versus $1,167 in Zhangjiakou.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,397 in Lisbon versus $1,596 in Zhangjiakou.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 206% more expensive than Zhangjiakou, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Zhangjiakou is 45% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.82โฌ13.43
$2.08ยฅ14.19
660.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4โฌ54.7
$27.53ยฅ188
133.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.37โฌ8.80
$5.58ยฅ38.12
85.84%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.46
$3.23ยฅ22.06
-10.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23โฌ1.90
$0.44ยฅ2.99
406.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55โฌ1.31
$0.29ยฅ2.01
434.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38โฌ2.87
$0.86ยฅ5.85
293.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90โฌ3.31
$2.00ยฅ13.64
95.00%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12โฌ0.95
$1.68ยฅ11.50
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80โฌ1.53
$1.87ยฅ12.77
-3.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.48
$1.00ยฅ6.82
75.00%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.69
$0.91ยฅ6.24
248.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.50โฌ11.46
$13.86ยฅ94.6
-2.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79โฌ6.61
$2.86ยฅ19.53
172.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.65โฌ13.29
$9.22ยฅ63.0
69.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$1.27ยฅ8.67
79.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$0.85ยฅ5.82
101.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โฌ1.64
$1.37ยฅ9.38
40.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52โฌ2.14
$1.10ยฅ7.50
129.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.52
$0.79ยฅ5.37
126.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05โฌ1.74
$0.59ยฅ4.00
247.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94โฌ1.64
$0.58ยฅ3.98
234.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.80ยฅ5.48
1.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65โฌ5.65
$3.57ยฅ24.36
86.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79โฌ4.91
$13.34ยฅ91.1
-56.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33โฌ1.13
$1.15ยฅ7.88
15.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91โฌ2.47
$2.37ยฅ16.18
22.78%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35โฌ1.99
$0.27ยฅ1.84
770.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.70โฌ38.80
$16.62ยฅ114
174.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.20โฌ3.57
$0.93ยฅ6.33
351.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$0.31ยฅ2.08
161.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.70โฌ15.88
$6.11ยฅ41.75
206.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.09ยฅ7.47
91.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6Kโฌ29.4K
$16.5Kยฅ112.4K
110.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.7K
$19.2Kยฅ131.4K
106.10%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ124
$86.2ยฅ589
69.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.84โฌ17.69
$6.77ยฅ46.27
207.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78โฌ33.77
$7.12ยฅ48.63
458.71%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58โฌ41.25
$41.62ยฅ284
16.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85โฌ16.00
$13.66ยฅ93.3
37.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07โฌ7.70
$6.36ยฅ43.46
42.61%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618โฌ525
$313ยฅ2,140
97.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2Kโฌ13.7K
$4,938ยฅ33.7K
227.29%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105โฌ88.8
$39.58ยฅ270
164.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.54โฌ34.42
$29.43ยฅ201
37.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.8โฌ79.6
$77.3ยฅ528
21.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123โฌ104
$55.2ยฅ377
122.15%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604โฌ1,362
$276ยฅ1,882
481.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260โฌ1,070
$190ยฅ1,300
562.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,065โฌ2,602
$601ยฅ4,103
410.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,008โฌ1,705
$357ยฅ2,439
462.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,702โฌ6,539
$2,997ยฅ20.5K
157.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,367โฌ3,707
$1,996ยฅ13.6K
118.72%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,638โฌ1,391
$375ยฅ2,564
336.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.35
-12.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026
Last update for Zhangjiakou: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $276 in Zhangjiakou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLisbon pays 336% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $64 in Lisbon vs $28 in Zhangjiakou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 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 206% in total monthly costs ($2,258 vs $737 including rent). Zhangjiakou is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Zhangjiakou?
Lisbon pays 336% 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $276 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 $618 in Lisbon versus $313 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 33% 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 $737 in Zhangjiakou versus $2,258 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 206% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.