Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Makhachkala versus $2,258 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,476 in Makhachkala versus $3,328 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,987 in Makhachkala versus $4,397 in Lisbon.

Living in Makhachkala costs roughly 57% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Makhachkala is 28% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.62 โ‚ฝ1,188
$15.82 โ‚ฌ13.46
-1.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.69 โ‚ฝ2,943
$64.4 โ‚ฌ54.8
-39.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.19 โ‚ฝ395
$10.37 โ‚ฌ8.82
-49.95%
Cappuccino
$3.24 โ‚ฝ246
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.46
12.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 โ‚ฝ63.6
$2.23 โ‚ฌ1.90
-62.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 โ‚ฝ26.81
$1.55 โ‚ฌ1.32
-77.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 โ‚ฝ104
$3.38 โ‚ฌ2.88
-59.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 โ‚ฝ195
$3.90 โ‚ฌ3.32
-34.10%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 โ‚ฝ115
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.96
34.82%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 โ‚ฝ49.55
$1.80 โ‚ฌ1.53
-63.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 โ‚ฝ105
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
-21.14%
Eggs
$1.38 โ‚ฝ105
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.70
-56.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.99 โ‚ฝ227
$13.50 โ‚ฌ11.49
-77.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.81 โ‚ฝ366
$7.79 โ‚ฌ6.63
-38.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.05 โ‚ฝ384
$15.65 โ‚ฌ13.32
-67.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 โ‚ฝ138
$2.28 โ‚ฌ1.94
-20.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 โ‚ฝ134
$1.71 โ‚ฌ1.46
3.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 โ‚ฝ213
$1.93 โ‚ฌ1.65
45.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 โ‚ฝ145
$2.52 โ‚ฌ2.15
-24.21%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 โ‚ฝ62.2
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.52
-54.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 โ‚ฝ36.98
$2.05 โ‚ฌ1.74
-76.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.48 โ‚ฝ189
$1.94 โ‚ฌ1.65
27.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 โ‚ฝ45.39
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
-25.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23 โ‚ฝ245
$6.65 โ‚ฌ5.66
-51.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.61 โ‚ฝ655
$5.79 โ‚ฌ4.92
48.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 โ‚ฝ76.3
$1.33 โ‚ฌ1.14
-24.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 โ‚ฝ142
$2.91 โ‚ฌ2.47
-36.08%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 โ‚ฝ32.02
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.00
-82.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.70 โ‚ฌ38.89
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 โ‚ฝ170
$4.20 โ‚ฌ3.58
-46.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 โ‚ฝ16.69
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
-72.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 โ‚ฝ494
$18.70 โ‚ฌ15.91
-65.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 โ‚ฝ53.9
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
-66.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K โ‚ฝ2.7M
$34.6K โ‚ฌ29.5K
2.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K โ‚ฝ2.3M
$39.7K โ‚ฌ33.7K
-24.42%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.3 โ‚ฝ4,130
$146 โ‚ฌ124
-62.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.32 โ‚ฝ481
$20.84 โ‚ฌ17.73
-69.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.94 โ‚ฝ756
$39.78 โ‚ฌ33.85
-75.01%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.60 โ‚ฝ3,620
$48.58 โ‚ฌ41.35
-2.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.85 โ‚ฌ16.04
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.02 โ‚ฝ382
$9.07 โ‚ฌ7.72
-44.65%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$169 โ‚ฝ12.9K
$618 โ‚ฌ526
-72.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,894 โ‚ฝ524.3K
$16.2K โ‚ฌ13.8K
-57.34%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 โ‚ฝ7,818
$105 โ‚ฌ89.0
-1.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.15 โ‚ฝ3,358
$40.54 โ‚ฌ34.50
8.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 โ‚ฝ7,877
$93.8 โ‚ฌ79.8
10.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 โ‚ฝ11.1K
$123 โ‚ฌ104
18.63%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 โ‚ฝ37.9K
$1,604 โ‚ฌ1,365
-68.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 โ‚ฝ23.1K
$1,260 โ‚ฌ1,073
-75.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$700 โ‚ฝ53.2K
$3,065 โ‚ฌ2,608
-77.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$411 โ‚ฝ31.3K
$2,008 โ‚ฌ1,709
-79.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,683 โ‚ฝ128.0K
$7,702 โ‚ฌ6,555
-78.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,217 โ‚ฝ92.6K
$4,367 โ‚ฌ3,716
-72.13%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Makhachkala
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$621 โ‚ฝ47.3K
$1,638 โ‚ฌ1,394
-62.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
3.81
197.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Makhachkala and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 164% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39 in Makhachkala vs $64 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $268 per month, with Makhachkala cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Makhachkala vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Makhachkala and Lisbon?
Makhachkala and Lisbon differ by about 134% in total monthly costs ($966 vs $2,258 including rent). Makhachkala is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 164% 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 Makhachkala and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $498 in Makhachkala versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Makhachkala or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $966 per month in Makhachkala versus $2,258 in Lisbon โ€“ a 134% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $966 in Makhachkala versus $2,258 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Makhachkala but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Makhachkala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Makhachkala and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Makhachkala or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Makhachkala and Lisbon 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: Makhachkala or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Makhachkala gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 134% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Makhachkala vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities