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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,119 in Zhubei City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $2,029 in Zhubei City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,940 in Zhubei City.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 98% more expensive than Zhubei City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Zhubei City is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$4.96 NT$156
220.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$34.24 NT$1,079
89.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$5.67 NT$179
85.36%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$3.70 NT$117
-22.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.98 NT$30.98
128.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.63 NT$19.84
138.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$2.26 NT$71.3
54.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.69 NT$84.9
44.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$3.25 NT$102
-64.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.99 NT$62.8
-12.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$4.34 NT$137
-59.45%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.02 NT$95.0
6.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$13.73 NT$433
-1.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$8.74 NT$275
-9.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$27.81 NT$876
-42.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$4.38 NT$138
-47.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.58 NT$81.2
-34.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.78 NT$87.5
-27.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$3.95 NT$124
-37.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$4.02 NT$127
-54.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.53 NT$79.9
-20.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.65 NT$83.4
-27.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.39 NT$43.65
-43.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$4.17 NT$131
58.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$9.15 NT$288
-37.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.57 NT$49.58
-12.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.70 NT$85.0
10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.65 NT$20.40
264.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
$38.26 NT$1,205
19.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$3.40 NT$107
26.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.63 NT$19.78
30.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$10.19 NT$321
79.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.03 NT$32.42
100.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$41.8K NT$1.3M
-18.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$27.2K NT$856.5K
44.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$93.0 NT$2,930
59.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$33.79 NT$1,064
-39.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$24.60 NT$775
61.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$34.24 NT$1,079
39.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$15.27 NT$481
23.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$11.76 NT$370
-21.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$690 NT$21.7K
-11.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$15.2K NT$479.7K
5.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$85.4 NT$2,690
22.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$47.83 NT$1,507
-12.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$99.9 NT$3,147
-5.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$115 NT$3,617
4.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$427 NT$13.4K
281.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$212 NT$6,690
491.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$1,180 NT$37.2K
156.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$863 NT$27.2K
133.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$16.8K NT$528.0K
-53.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$9,937 NT$313.1K
-57.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
$2,432 NT$76.6K
-34.08%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Zhubei City: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $427 in Zhubei City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhubei City pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Zhubei City. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $394, 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 Zhubei City?
Lisbon and Zhubei City differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,119 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, Zhubei City earns 52% 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 Zhubei City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $427 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $690 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 46% 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 $1,119 in Zhubei City versus $2,210 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 98% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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