🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,414 in Songdo-dong versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,243 in Songdo-dong versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,072 in Songdo-dong versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Songdo-dong costs roughly 36% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Songdo-dong6% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.20₩10.9K
$15.91€13.69
-54.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.2₩83.6K
$64.8€55.7
-14.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.38₩9,670
$10.51€9.04
-39.30%
Cappuccino
$3.59₩5,441
$2.87€2.47
25.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07₩1,626
$2.24€1.93
-52.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71₩1,079
$1.50€1.29
-52.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.00₩4,548
$3.49€3.00
-14.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91₩8,951
$3.88€3.34
52.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14₩3,237
$1.14€0.98
87.72%
White Bread(500g)
$3.33₩5,053
$1.75€1.51
90.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.21₩4,863
$1.76€1.51
82.39%
Eggs
$3.15₩4,778
$3.22€2.77
-2.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.54₩22.0K
$13.49€11.61
7.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.23₩12.5K
$7.91€6.81
4.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.73₩52.6K
$15.87€13.65
118.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69₩5,593
$2.31€1.99
59.74%
Banana(1kg)
$3.02₩4,576
$1.70€1.46
77.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.67₩8,595
$2.01€1.73
182.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.44₩9,755
$2.46€2.12
161.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55₩3,862
$1.84€1.59
38.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.60₩3,934
$2.00€1.72
30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51₩3,801
$1.93€1.66
30.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19₩1,805
$0.79€0.68
50.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25₩4,917
$6.61€5.68
-50.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11₩19.9K
$5.72€4.92
129.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18₩3,309
$1.37€1.17
59.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38₩5,119
$2.97€2.56
13.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84₩1,271
$2.37€2.04
-64.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56€39.19
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63₩5,493
$4.29€3.69
-15.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53₩801
$0.82€0.70
-35.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.60₩13.0K
$18.30€15.74
-53.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21₩1,826
$2.06€1.78
-41.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K₩42.2M
$34.3K€29.5K
-18.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K₩38.0M
$39.3K€33.8K
-36.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162₩245.4K
$148€127
9.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.26₩53.4K
$20.52€17.65
71.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.56₩34.2K
$39.61€34.08
-43.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.6₩111.5K
$47.85€41.16
53.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92€16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.88₩16.5K
$9.18€7.90
18.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$367₩556.2K
$614€528
-40.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.8K₩36.1M
$16.0K€13.8K
48.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0₩90.9K
$105€90.0
-42.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.09₩72.9K
$42.06€36.18
14.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$37.28₩56.5K
$94.0€80.8
-60.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₩172.8K
$120€103
-4.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449₩680.7K
$1,628€1,400
-72.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376₩569.5K
$1,255€1,080
-70.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,087₩1.6M
$3,030€2,607
-64.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$770₩1.2M
$2,020€1,738
-61.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Songdo-dong
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,027₩4.6M
$1,603€1,379
88.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
3.81
8.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Songdo-dong: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $449 in Songdo-dong and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Songdo-dong pays 89% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Songdo-dong vs $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $442 vs $269, 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
Songdo-dong vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Songdo-dong and Lisbon?
Songdo-dong and Lisbon differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($1,414 vs $2,210 including rent). Songdo-dong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Songdo-dong or Lisbon?
Songdo-dong pays 89% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Songdo-dong and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $449 in Songdo-dong versus $1,628 in Lisbon. 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 64% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Songdo-dong or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,414 per month in Songdo-dong versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 56% 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 $1,414 in Songdo-dong versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Songdo-dong but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Songdo-dong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Songdo-dong 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 Songdo-dong or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Songdo-dong 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: Songdo-dong or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Songdo-dong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Songdo-dong vs other spots: cost of living compared