😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,063 in Zhongli City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,790 in Zhongli City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $2,517 in Zhongli City.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 113% more expensive than Zhongli City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Zhongli City is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$5.21NT$165
205.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$20.60NT$651
207.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$4.85NT$153
114.02%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.50NT$78.9
11.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.79NT$24.87
196.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.57NT$17.88
175.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$1.42NT$44.79
141.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$1.50NT$47.43
160.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$3.37NT$107
-67.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$1.71NT$54.2
3.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$2.78NT$87.9
-38.49%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$2.62NT$82.8
20.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$30.86NT$975
-55.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$8.07NT$255
-0.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$15.75NT$498
-1.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$4.68NT$148
-51.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.76NT$55.7
-6.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.29NT$72.3
-15.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.10NT$97.9
-19.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.34NT$42.45
33.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.91NT$60.3
5.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$2.34NT$74.0
-15.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.30NT$40.99
-35.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$4.19NT$132
62.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$15.60NT$493
-63.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.67NT$52.7
-16.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.35NT$74.3
28.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.58NT$18.42
291.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$40.20NT$1,271
13.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$2.84NT$89.8
51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.78NT$24.71
8.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$10.34NT$327
76.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.96NT$30.35
107.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$34.0KNT$1.1M
3.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$26.3KNT$831.3K
50.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$97.5NT$3,082
49.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$13.46NT$425
51.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$10.31NT$326
278.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$37.66NT$1,190
30.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$15.34NT$485
22.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$9.28NT$293
2.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$355NT$11.2K
71.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$20.8KNT$658.9K
-20.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$61.2NT$1,933
69.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$20.02NT$633
110.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$78.7NT$2,487
17.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$67.2NT$2,124
78.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$421NT$13.3K
284.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$265NT$8,368
378.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,024NT$32.4K
197.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$757NT$23.9K
165.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhongli City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$2,330NT$73.7K
-31.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
2.1
81.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Zhongli City: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $421 in Zhongli City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zhongli City pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $21.00 in Zhongli City. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $388, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Zhongli City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Zhongli City?
Lisbon and Zhongli City differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,063 including rent). Zhongli City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Zhongli City earns 47% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Zhongli City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $421 in Zhongli City. 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 Zhongli City?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $355 in Zhongli City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 44% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,063 in Zhongli City versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhongli City but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zhongli City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zhongli City?
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 Zhongli City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zhongli City 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 Zhongli City?
Expats usually find Zhongli City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.