😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $744 in Zhangjiakou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $1,166 in Zhangjiakou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $1,589 in Zhangjiakou.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 197% more expensive than in Zhangjiakou, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Zhangjiakou is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.80
$2.07¥13.99
658.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.2
$27.97¥189
124.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.25
$5.40¥36.57
95.00%
Cappuccino
$2.88€2.53
$3.18¥21.53
-9.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.98
$0.43¥2.94
423.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.37
$0.29¥1.97
437.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.98
$0.86¥5.80
294.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.42
$1.91¥12.91
104.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$1.70¥11.52
-36.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.52
$1.78¥12.05
-2.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$0.94¥6.33
87.23%
Eggs
$3.16€2.78
$0.98¥6.62
222.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.68
$14.12¥95.6
-5.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.92
$2.76¥18.68
185.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.92
$9.10¥61.6
74.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$1.26¥8.51
90.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.50
$0.87¥5.89
95.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.38¥9.31
47.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$1.14¥7.69
121.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$0.78¥5.31
138.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$0.57¥3.88
261.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.76
$0.55¥3.71
263.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.69
$0.86¥5.80
-9.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65€5.84
$3.42¥23.15
94.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.08
$13.56¥91.8
-57.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.22
$1.21¥8.22
14.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.65
$2.36¥15.96
27.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.05
$0.27¥1.81
762.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.94
$16.95¥115
168.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.58
$0.92¥6.25
343.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$0.33¥2.25
142.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.38
$6.13¥41.48
204.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.76
$1.14¥7.72
75.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.1K
$16.8K¥113.9K
110.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.3K
$19.6K¥132.8K
99.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$87.2¥590
72.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.06
$7.10¥48.06
189.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.66
$7.06¥47.76
458.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.23
$42.40¥287
13.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.43
$14.06¥95.1
33.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.17
$6.42¥43.46
44.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€552
$318¥2,149
97.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.5K
$4,944¥33.5K
232.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.2
$38.72¥262
162.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.51
$28.56¥193
45.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.3
$75.9¥514
21.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€108
$55.8¥378
119.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,430
$281¥1,900
479.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,083
$187¥1,267
558.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,747
$598¥4,047
422.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,808
$367¥2,482
461.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,821
$3,554¥24.0K
118.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,854
$1,912¥12.9K
129.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhangjiakou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,425
$381¥2,577
325.64%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Zhangjiakou: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $281 in Zhangjiakou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 326% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $28.00 in Zhangjiakou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $203 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 in Zhangjiakou?
Lisbon and Zhangjiakou differ by about 197% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $744 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?
Average pay runs 326% higher in Lisbon, 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 in Zhangjiakou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $281 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 $628 in Lisbon versus $318 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 $744 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 197% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.