🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $539 in Samarkand versus $2,243 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $895 in Samarkand versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,251 in Samarkand versus $4,387 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Samarkand costs roughly 76% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Samarkand is 60% below, Lisbon is 67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.72UZS 57.1K
$15.73€13.42
-69.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.24UZS 208.2K
$63.2€53.9
-72.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.22UZS 51.0K
$10.32€8.80
-59.11%
Cappuccino
$1.80UZS 21.8K
$2.81€2.40
-35.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43UZS 5,144
$2.33€1.99
-81.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25UZS 3,000
$1.51€1.29
-83.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28UZS 15.4K
$3.37€2.87
-62.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00UZS 24.2K
$3.91€3.34
-48.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05UZS 12.7K
$1.08€0.92
-2.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.38UZS 4,575
$1.75€1.49
-78.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58UZS 19.1K
$1.75€1.50
-9.71%
Eggs
$1.26UZS 15.2K
$3.10€2.64
-59.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.87UZS 95.1K
$13.28€11.33
-40.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.73UZS 45.0K
$7.85€6.70
-52.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.78UZS 106.0K
$16.05€13.69
-45.30%
Apples(1kg)
$0.83UZS 10.0K
$2.39€2.04
-65.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74UZS 21.0K
$1.72€1.47
1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63UZS 19.6K
$1.97€1.68
-17.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50UZS 18.2K
$2.55€2.17
-41.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48UZS 5,817
$1.79€1.53
-73.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.17UZS 2,053
$1.97€1.68
-91.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.25UZS 3,035
$1.96€1.67
-87.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38UZS 4,570
$0.84€0.71
-54.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.61UZS 19.4K
$6.82€5.82
-76.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.22UZS 38.9K
$5.85€4.99
-44.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96UZS 11.6K
$1.38€1.18
-30.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02UZS 24.4K
$2.92€2.49
-30.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25UZS 3,034
$2.29€1.95
-89.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.08UZS 37.3K
$46.88€39.99
-93.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38UZS 4,586
$4.12€3.51
-90.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.18UZS 2,159
$0.81€0.69
-77.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.33UZS 28.1K
$18.94€16.16
-87.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94UZS 11.4K
$2.09€1.78
-55.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0KUZS 241.3M
$35.1K€30.0K
-43.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KUZS 299.2M
$39.7K€33.9K
-37.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.84UZS 469.1K
$150€128
-74.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58UZS 43.2K
$20.49€17.48
-82.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.68UZS 141.0K
$39.15€33.40
-70.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.27UZS 438.1K
$49.65€42.35
-26.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.40UZS 77.3K
$18.47€15.76
-65.35%
Cinema Ticket
$2.95UZS 35.6K
$9.20€7.84
-67.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118UZS 1.4M
$624€533
-81.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,645UZS 56.1M
$15.9K€13.6K
-70.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.54UZS 236.1K
$102€87.2
-80.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.93UZS 482.2K
$40.88€34.87
-2.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.2UZS 860.0K
$95.7€81.6
-25.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.1UZS 677.4K
$121€103
-53.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$227UZS 2.7M
$1,653€1,410
-86.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$129UZS 1.6M
$1,233€1,051
-89.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$431UZS 5.2M
$3,043€2,596
-85.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298UZS 3.6M
$2,059€1,756
-85.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,248UZS 15.1M
$7,879€6,720
-84.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$546UZS 6.6M
$4,303€3,671
-87.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Samarkand
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$293UZS 3.5M
$1,566€1,336
-81.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.07
3.81
479.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Samarkand: April 21, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $227 in Samarkand and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 434% 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: $17 in Samarkand vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $145 vs $270 per month, with Samarkand 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
Samarkand vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Samarkand and Lisbon?
Samarkand and Lisbon differ by about 316% in total monthly costs ($539 vs $2,243 including rent). Samarkand is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 434% 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 Samarkand and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $227 in Samarkand versus $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Samarkand and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $118 in Samarkand versus $624 in Lisbon. 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 85% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $539 in Samarkand versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samarkand but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Samarkand the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Samarkand and Lisbon?
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 Samarkand or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Samarkand 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: Samarkand or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Samarkand gentler on the wallet – expenses run 316% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.