Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Wuhan and Lisbon
For one person, living is cheaper in Wuhan: $825 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Wuhan and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $825 in Wuhan versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
Wuhan $825
Lisbon $2,210
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,281 in Wuhan versus $3,275 in Lisbon.
Wuhan $1,281
Lisbon $3,275
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,738 in Wuhan versus $4,341 in Lisbon.
Wuhan $1,738
Lisbon $4,341
🌍
Living in Wuhan costs roughly 63% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Wuhan is 39% below, Lisbon is 62% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04¥20.24
$16.65€14.95
-81.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.31¥148
$61.7€55.5
-63.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.93¥46.12
$11.36€10.20
-39.00%
Cappuccino
$2.30¥15.32
$2.97€2.67
-22.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.21
$2.29€2.06
-79.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.85
$1.74€1.56
-83.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02¥6.80
$3.40€3.06
-70.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34¥22.23
$3.31€2.97
0.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19¥14.56
$1.16€1.04
88.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77¥11.76
$1.91€1.72
-7.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01¥6.74
$1.51€1.36
-33.11%
Eggs
$1.72¥11.46
$4.02€3.61
-57.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.53¥90.0
$12.94€11.62
4.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43¥22.85
$7.77€6.98
-55.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.65¥84.2
$17.76€15.95
-28.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43¥16.16
$2.30€2.07
5.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.70
$1.73€1.56
-24.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50¥9.98
$1.86€1.67
-19.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13¥7.53
$2.59€2.33
-56.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91¥6.06
$1.82€1.64
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90¥5.98
$1.97€1.77
-54.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38¥2.56
$1.47€1.32
-74.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57¥3.76
$0.72€0.65
-20.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.99¥33.21
$6.58€5.91
-24.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.16¥101
$5.61€5.04
170.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87¥5.80
$1.36€1.22
-36.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97¥13.12
$2.14€1.92
-7.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46¥3.09
$2.33€2.10
-80.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.56¥197
$44.68€40.14
-33.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.46¥9.71
$3.85€3.46
-62.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29¥1.92
$1.07€0.96
-72.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.10¥27.26
$16.46€14.79
-75.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30¥8.68
$2.20€1.98
-40.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K¥130.4K
$34.2K€30.7K
-42.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥116.7K
$38.7K€34.8K
-54.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.7¥457
$161€145
-57.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.76¥58.3
$18.41€16.54
-52.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76¥78.3
$32.74€29.41
-64.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.0¥359
$44.55€40.02
21.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.97¥120
$19.10€17.16
-5.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.15¥40.95
$9.60€8.62
-35.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$389¥2,591
$668€600
-41.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K¥71.0K
$17.6K€15.8K
-39.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9¥358
$102€91.6
-47.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.47¥223
$44.46€39.94
-24.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.3¥541
$98.5€88.5
-17.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113¥754
$124€111
-8.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$323¥2,146
$1,608€1,445
-79.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$191¥1,273
$1,190€1,069
-83.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$600¥3,993
$2,812€2,526
-78.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329¥2,193
$2,013€1,808
-83.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,072¥20.4K
$7,839€7,042
-60.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,468¥9,771
$4,576€4,110
-67.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wuhan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,092¥7,268
$1,575€1,415
-30.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.28
3.85
-14.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wuhan: October 24, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Wuhan
$229 27.8%
Lisbon
$272 12.3% ↑ 18.8%$43
🏠Accommodation & Living
Wuhan
$191 23.2%
Lisbon
$1.2K 53.8% ↑ 522%$999
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Wuhan
$127 15.4%
Lisbon
$166 7.5% ↑ 30.8%$39
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wuhan
$89 10.8%
Lisbon
$212 9.6% ↑ 138%$123
🍽Eating Out
Wuhan
$88 10.6%
Lisbon
$243 11% ↑ 177%$155
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Wuhan
$66 8%
Lisbon
$64 2.9% ↓ 3.8%$2.5
🚌Getting Around
Wuhan
$34 4.2%
Lisbon
$63 2.9% ↑ 84.1%$29
🛒Groceries & Markets
Wuhan
$526 30.3%
Lisbon
$649 15% ↑ 23.5%$123
🏠Accommodation & Living
Wuhan
$329 19%
Lisbon
$2K 46.4% ↑ 511%$1.7K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Wuhan
$282 16.2%
Lisbon
$369 8.5% ↑ 30.8%$87
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wuhan
$98 5.6%
Lisbon
$231 5.3% ↑ 136%$133
🍽Eating Out
Wuhan
$282 16.3%
Lisbon
$801 18.5% ↑ 184%$519
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Wuhan
$151 8.7%
Lisbon
$147 3.4% ↓ 2.6%$3.9
🚌Getting Around
Wuhan
$70 4%
Lisbon
$131 3% ↑ 88.4%$62
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $323 in Wuhan and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 44% 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: $22 in Wuhan vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $272 per month, with Wuhan cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Wuhan vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Wuhan and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $825 in Wuhan and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Wuhan is about 63% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Wuhan. 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 Wuhan and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $323 in Wuhan versus $1,608 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 Wuhan and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $389 in Wuhan versus $668 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 19% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $825 in Wuhan versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Wuhan but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Wuhan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Wuhan 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.
Where should expats move: Wuhan or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Wuhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.