Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zhoukou Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zhoukou

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $746 in Zhoukou.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,182 in Zhoukou.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,618 in Zhoukou.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 208% more expensive than in Zhoukou, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Zhoukou is 45% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.23
$3.92 ¥26.26
348.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.4
$22.66 ¥152
177.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.03
$4.95 ¥33.16
133.94%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.68
$3.31 ¥22.17
-6.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$0.49 ¥3.29
408.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.51
$0.36 ¥2.40
383.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.01
$1.06 ¥7.07
228.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €2.98
$2.20 ¥14.72
56.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €0.99
$1.80 ¥12.04
-36.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.65
$1.66 ¥11.13
15.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.30
$1.01 ¥6.79
48.51%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.45
$1.57 ¥10.51
153.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.51
$13.06 ¥87.5
1.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.94
$3.42 ¥22.93
134.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.62
$11.33 ¥75.9
59.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.04
$1.90 ¥12.74
23.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.52
$1.31 ¥8.79
33.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.61
$1.60 ¥10.71
15.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.21
$1.12 ¥7.51
127.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.60
$0.74 ¥4.93
148.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.82
$0.95 ¥6.39
121.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.29
$0.59 ¥3.93
152.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.56 ¥3.77
46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.15
$4.26 ¥28.51
66.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.11
$11.23 ¥75.2
-47.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.14
$0.78 ¥5.24
67.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.85
$1.43 ¥9.56
48.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.04
$0.31 ¥2.09
661.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.36
$18.13 ¥121
157.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.53
$1.46 ¥9.76
179.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$0.32 ¥2.17
256.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.80
$7.16 ¥47.94
138.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.00
$1.22 ¥8.20
89.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.5K
$20.8K ¥139.3K
64.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.8K
$16.4K ¥110.0K
152.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €146
$56.3 ¥377
199.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.74
$9.77 ¥65.5
97.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.01
$11.02 ¥73.8
204.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.28
$44.06 ¥295
10.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.82
$13.57 ¥90.9
43.18%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.28
$5.88 ¥39.39
62.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €602
$413 ¥2,765
68.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.0K
$14.5K ¥97.0K
19.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.2
$42.45 ¥284
148.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.34
$29.74 ¥199
60.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.0
$75.9 ¥508
32.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$64.5 ¥432
92.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,439
$293 ¥1,965
466.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,079
$182 ¥1,221
583.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,566
$562 ¥3,767
427.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,773
$376 ¥2,517
445.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,782
$3,415 ¥22.9K
129.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,865
$1,939 ¥13.0K
130.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhoukou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,412
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
3.38
11.83%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Zhoukou: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $293 in Zhoukou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $23.00 in Zhoukou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $207 per month, with Zhoukou 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 Zhoukou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Zhoukou?
Lisbon and Zhoukou differ by about 208% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $746 including rent). Zhoukou 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 Zhoukou?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $1,119 in Zhoukou 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 Zhoukou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $293 in Zhoukou. 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 Zhoukou?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $413 in Zhoukou. 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 $2,000 per month?
At $746 in Zhoukou versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhoukou but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zhoukou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zhoukou?
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 Zhoukou safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zhoukou 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 Zhoukou?
Expats usually find Zhoukou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 208% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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