Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zhanjiang

For one person, living is cheaper in Zhanjiang: $716 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Zhanjiang
🇨🇳 China
$716
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Zhanjiang

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Zhanjiang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,223 in Lisbon versus $716 in Zhanjiang.

  • Lisbon $2,223
  • Zhanjiang $716

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,271 in Lisbon versus $1,136 in Zhanjiang.

  • Lisbon $3,271
  • Zhanjiang $1,136

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,319 in Lisbon versus $1,556 in Zhanjiang.

  • Lisbon $4,319
  • Zhanjiang $1,556

Living in Lisbon is roughly 210% more expensive than in Zhanjiang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Zhanjiang is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.50 €14.67
$2.59 ¥17.33
537.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.3 €54.5
$19.75 ¥132
210.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 €10.03
$5.20 ¥34.77
116.73%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.72
$2.82 ¥18.83
8.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 €2.01
$0.51 ¥3.42
343.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.54
$0.34 ¥2.29
408.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €3.02
$1.21 ¥8.11
180.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.02
$1.96 ¥13.13
73.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 €1.00
$1.82 ¥12.15
-38.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.65
$1.76 ¥11.75
5.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 €1.36
$0.83 ¥5.54
84.34%
Eggs
$3.96 €3.53
$1.62 ¥10.85
144.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 €11.35
$15.01 ¥100
-14.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.02
$3.19 ¥21.30
147.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.97 €15.09
$9.84 ¥65.8
72.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.85 ¥12.36
22.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.28 ¥8.59
36.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.55 ¥10.37
19.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 €2.28
$1.27 ¥8.47
102.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 €1.65
$0.73 ¥4.88
154.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 €1.80
$0.83 ¥5.55
143.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.28
$0.57 ¥3.83
152.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.73
$0.58 ¥3.87
41.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56 €5.83
$3.58 ¥23.93
83.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.62 €5.00
$10.68 ¥71.4
-47.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.14
$0.97 ¥6.48
31.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 €1.84
$1.79 ¥11.95
15.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 €2.09
$0.27 ¥1.79
770.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.18 €39.30
$16.11 ¥108
174.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.55
$1.65 ¥11.00
141.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$0.31 ¥2.08
251.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.64 €14.81
$6.12 ¥40.91
171.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.28 €2.03
$1.09 ¥7.32
109.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.0K
$17.8K ¥118.7K
89.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €35.0K
$15.7K ¥104.8K
150.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 €149
$56.1 ¥375
198.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80 €16.72
$9.19 ¥61.5
104.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.09 €29.43
$12.15 ¥81.3
172.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 €40.93
$40.07 ¥268
14.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19 €17.07
$13.31 ¥89.0
44.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 €8.75
$5.99 ¥40.05
64.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 €602
$373 ¥2,493
81.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K €15.1K
$16.4K ¥109.5K
3.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €90.1
$46.39 ¥310
118.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.76 €40.70
$34.55 ¥231
32.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 €88.9
$70.3 ¥470
42.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 €109
$74.8 ¥500
64.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 €1,436
$310 ¥2,073
420.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,065
$173 ¥1,154
593.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,862 €2,545
$577 ¥3,858
395.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,990 €1,770
$343 ¥2,295
479.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,577 €6,740
$3,337 ¥22.3K
127.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,307 €3,831
$1,866 ¥12.5K
130.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhanjiang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,588 €1,412
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.36
14.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Last update for Zhanjiang: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Zhanjiang
$173 85.6% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$269
Zhanjiang
$208 22.7% $61
Eating Out
Lisbon
$242
Zhanjiang
$84 65.5% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$219
Zhanjiang
$77 64.7% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Zhanjiang
$102 38.9% $65
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$66
Zhanjiang
$52 20.8% $14
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Zhanjiang
$20 67.7% $43

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,614 in Lisbon and $310 in Zhanjiang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Lisbon vs $20.00 in Zhanjiang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $208 per month, with Zhanjiang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇨🇳 Zhanjiang
🕒 Local time
10:07 10:07 AM
17:07 5:07 PM
7 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
1,612,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Zhanjiang 10,850 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Zhanjiang

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Zhanjiang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Zhanjiang?
Lisbon and Zhanjiang differ by about 210% in total monthly costs ($2,223 vs $716 including rent). Zhanjiang 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 Zhanjiang?
You'd need roughly $3,335 in Lisbon and $1,074 in Zhanjiang 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 Zhanjiang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,614 in Lisbon versus $310 in Zhanjiang. 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 Zhanjiang?
Childcare runs $677 in Lisbon versus $373 in Zhanjiang. 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 29% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $716 in Zhanjiang versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhanjiang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zhanjiang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zhanjiang?
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 Zhanjiang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zhanjiang 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 Zhanjiang?
Expats usually find Zhanjiang 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.

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