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: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,059 in Zhubei City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,837 in Zhubei City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,616 in Zhubei City.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 117% more expensive than in Zhubei City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Zhubei City is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$4.70 NT$150
274.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$27.90 NT$888
125.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$5.16 NT$164
124.42%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$3.06 NT$97.4
1.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$0.95 NT$30.28
162.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$0.56 NT$17.98
210.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$1.88 NT$59.7
85.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$2.56 NT$81.4
34.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$2.96 NT$94.1
-61.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.83 NT$58.2
4.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$4.63 NT$147
-67.60%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$2.87 NT$91.3
38.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$25.09 NT$799
-47.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$8.74 NT$278
-8.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$25.46 NT$810
-29.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$4.11 NT$131
-42.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.55 NT$81.1
-31.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$2.78 NT$88.6
-33.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$3.41 NT$108
-25.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$3.05 NT$97.0
-39.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$2.05 NT$65.3
2.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$2.01 NT$64.1
-25.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.35 NT$42.93
-39.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$4.00 NT$127
77.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$9.29 NT$296
-36.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.42 NT$45.21
-7.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.02 NT$64.2
5.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$0.60 NT$19.09
293.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$3.11 NT$98.9
31.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$0.65 NT$20.55
75.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$9.36 NT$298
82.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$1.03 NT$32.78
124.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$33.7K NT$1.1M
1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$25.3K NT$805.1K
63.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$103 NT$3,268
64.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$19.77 NT$629
-2.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$23.52 NT$749
42.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$31.76 NT$1,011
53.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$10.06 NT$320
-4.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$663 NT$21.1K
4.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$16.7K NT$532.7K
3.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$58.3 NT$1,856
80.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$32.07 NT$1,021
48.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$94.1 NT$2,994
6.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$98.2 NT$3,126
26.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$500 NT$15.9K
232.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$216 NT$6,882
476.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$1,124 NT$35.8K
163.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$785 NT$25.0K
160.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$16.4K NT$521.6K
-52.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$9,587 NT$305.2K
-53.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Zhubei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$2,410 NT$76.7K
-32.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
2.4
57.50%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Zhubei City: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $500 in Zhubei City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zhubei City pays 48% 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 $28.00 in Zhubei City. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $404, 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 117% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,059 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 48% 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: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $500 in Zhubei City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
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 expensive overall: Lisbon or Zhubei City?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $1,059 in Zhubei City – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,059 in Zhubei City versus $2,296 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 117% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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