🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,151 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk versus $2,243 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,736 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,322 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk versus $4,387 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk costs roughly 49% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is 14% below, Lisbon is 67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.36₽702
$15.73€13.42
-40.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.30₽2,874
$63.2€53.9
-39.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.81₽436
$10.32€8.80
-43.70%
Cappuccino
$2.27₽170
$2.81€2.40
-19.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08₽81.0
$2.33€1.99
-53.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₽35.88
$1.51€1.29
-68.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36₽102
$3.37€2.87
-59.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52₽189
$3.91€3.34
-35.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12₽159
$1.08€0.92
96.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99₽74.6
$1.75€1.49
-43.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43₽107
$1.75€1.50
-18.29%
Eggs
$2.86₽215
$3.10€2.64
-7.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.79₽884
$13.28€11.33
-11.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.20₽466
$7.85€6.70
-21.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84₽813
$16.05€13.69
-32.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14₽235
$2.39€2.04
31.38%
Banana(1kg)
$3.46₽260
$1.72€1.47
101.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18₽314
$1.97€1.68
112.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.78₽359
$2.55€2.17
87.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00₽74.7
$1.79€1.53
-44.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98₽73.9
$1.97€1.68
-50.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68₽126
$1.96€1.67
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91₽67.9
$0.84€0.71
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99₽225
$6.82€5.82
-56.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.44₽708
$5.85€4.99
61.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02₽76.5
$1.38€1.18
-26.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84₽138
$2.92€2.49
-36.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43₽32.22
$2.29€1.95
-81.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.88€39.99
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.87₽140
$4.12€3.51
-54.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55₽40.91
$0.81€0.69
-32.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.48₽486
$18.94€16.16
-65.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76₽57.4
$2.09€1.78
-63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K₽2.5M
$35.1K€30.0K
-3.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K₽1.7M
$39.7K€33.9K
-41.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173₽13.0K
$150€128
15.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.01₽601
$20.49€17.48
-60.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.18₽989
$39.15€33.40
-66.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7₽4,326
$49.65€42.35
16.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.47€15.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.91₽443
$9.20€7.84
-35.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320₽24.0K
$624€533
-48.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,074₽530.8K
$15.9K€13.6K
-55.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0₽5,174
$102€87.2
-32.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.75₽3,358
$40.88€34.87
9.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114₽8,565
$95.7€81.6
19.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2₽7,143
$121€103
-21.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449₽33.7K
$1,653€1,410
-72.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₽22.9K
$1,233€1,051
-75.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$747₽56.1K
$3,043€2,596
-75.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$518₽38.9K
$2,059€1,756
-74.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,063₽304.9K
$7,879€6,720
-48.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,366₽177.5K
$4,303€3,671
-45.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,138₽85.4K
$1,566€1,336
-27.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.67
3.81
285.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: April 19, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $449 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 38% 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: $38 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk vs $63 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $270, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.
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
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Lisbon?
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Lisbon differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($1,151 vs $2,243 including rent). Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 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 38% 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 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $449 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk versus $1,653 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 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,151 per month in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk versus $2,243 in Lisbon – a 95% 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 $1,151 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 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 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk 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: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk vs other spots: cost of living compared