Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zhubei City Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Zhubei City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,140 in Zhubei City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,070 in Zhubei City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $3,001 in Zhubei City.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 101% more expensive than in Zhubei City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Zhubei City is 15% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$5.19 NT$167
211.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$34.12 NT$1,101
85.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$5.68 NT$183
81.69%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$3.56 NT$115
-20.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$0.91 NT$29.22
151.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.62 NT$20.02
154.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.24 NT$72.2
51.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$2.76 NT$88.9
46.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$3.11 NT$100
-64.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.06 NT$66.4
-15.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$4.34 NT$140
-59.45%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$2.91 NT$93.9
8.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$13.84 NT$447
-4.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$8.46 NT$273
-5.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$28.32 NT$914
-45.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$4.34 NT$140
-45.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.63 NT$85.0
-34.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$2.73 NT$88.0
-26.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$3.91 NT$126
-37.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$4.04 NT$131
-56.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.53 NT$81.6
-19.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$2.64 NT$85.3
-27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.33 NT$42.79
-36.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$3.97 NT$128
65.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$8.74 NT$282
-36.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.57 NT$50.7
-15.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$2.83 NT$91.4
4.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.65 NT$21.00
250.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$39.36 NT$1,270
16.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$3.35 NT$108
26.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$0.58 NT$18.88
39.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$10.04 NT$324
83.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.07 NT$34.51
94.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$40.9K NT$1.3M
-15.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$27.3K NT$879.5K
43.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$91.7 NT$2,959
61.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$33.73 NT$1,088
-39.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$24.46 NT$789
61.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$33.75 NT$1,089
42.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$15.19 NT$490
22.45%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$11.68 NT$377
-21.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$703 NT$22.7K
-12.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$15.5K NT$500.6K
6.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$84.4 NT$2,724
21.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$47.17 NT$1,522
-11.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$101 NT$3,251
-5.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$114 NT$3,666
7.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$438 NT$14.1K
272.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$212 NT$6,834
481.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$1,202 NT$38.8K
157.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$857 NT$27.7K
137.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$16.4K NT$527.7K
-52.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$9,443 NT$304.8K
-53.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$2,391 NT$77.2K
-32.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
2.4
58.75%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Zhubei City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $438 in Zhubei City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhubei City pays 49% 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 $34.00 in Zhubei City. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $392, 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 Zhubei City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Zhubei City?
Lisbon and Zhubei City differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,140 including rent). Zhubei 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, salaries run 49% lower in Zhubei City. 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 in Zhubei City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $438 in Zhubei 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 Zhubei City?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $703 in Zhubei 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 47% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,140 in Zhubei City versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zhubei City but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zhubei City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Zhubei 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 Zhubei City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Zhubei 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 Zhubei City?
Expats usually find Zhubei City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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