Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanjan and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Zanjan: $428 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $21,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Zanjan, Iran
Lisbon, Portugal
Zanjan
🇮🇷 Iran
$428
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Zanjan and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Zanjan and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $428 in Zanjan versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

  • Zanjan $428
  • Lisbon $2,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $768 in Zanjan versus $3,275 in Lisbon.

  • Zanjan $768
  • Lisbon $3,275

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,108 in Zanjan versus $4,341 in Lisbon.

  • Zanjan $1,108
  • Lisbon $4,341

Living in Zanjan costs roughly 81% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zanjan is 69% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 $3.07
$16.65 €14.92
-81.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.14 $13.14
$61.7 €55.3
-78.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.03 $3.03
$11.36 €10.18
-73.33%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.67 $0.67
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.92 $0.92
$2.97 €2.66
-69.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$2.29 €2.05
-78.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.74 €1.56
-32.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.40 €3.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.31 €2.97
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.70 $0.70
$1.16 €1.04
-39.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 $0.57
$1.91 €1.71
-70.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.51 €1.36
111.92%
Eggs
$1.23 $1.23
$4.02 €3.60
-69.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$12.94 €11.59
-64.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$7.77 €6.97
-57.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.09 $9.09
$17.76 €15.92
-48.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$2.30 €2.06
-53.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.73 €1.55
-12.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.86 €1.66
-55.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.45 $0.45
$2.59 €2.32
-82.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.53 $0.53
$1.82 €1.63
-70.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.47 $0.47
$1.97 €1.76
-76.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 $0.40
$1.47 €1.32
-72.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 $0.24
$0.72 €0.65
-66.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$0.73 $0.73
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 $0.55
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73 $1.73
$6.58 €5.90
-73.71%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.61 €5.02
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.36 €1.22
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14 €1.91
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 $0.19
$2.33 €2.09
-91.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.85 $9.85
$44.68 €40.04
-77.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 $0.31
$3.85 €3.45
-91.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 $0.31
$1.07 €0.96
-71.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 $1.02
$16.46 €14.75
-93.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 $0.03
$2.20 €1.97
-98.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.9K $49.9K
$34.2K €30.6K
45.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.7K $46.7K
$38.7K €34.7K
20.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.19 $13.19
$161 €144
-91.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$1.57 $1.57
$18.41 €16.50
-91.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.00 $4.00
$32.74 €29.34
-87.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.35 $12.35
$44.55 €39.92
-72.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.66 $12.66
$19.10 €17.11
-33.72%
Cinema Ticket
$2.04 $2.04
$9.60 €8.60
-78.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 $106
$668 €598
-84.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,544 $2,544
$17.6K €15.8K
-85.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.95 $26.95
$102 €91.4
-73.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.23 $37.23
$44.46 €39.85
-16.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 $118
$98.5 €88.3
19.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 $74.3
$124 €111
-39.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$136 $136
$1,608 €1,441
-91.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.0 $99.0
$1,190 €1,066
-91.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$384 $384
$2,812 €2,520
-86.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$314 $314
$2,013 €1,804
-84.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$809 $809
$7,839 €7,025
-89.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$473 $473
$4,576 €4,100
-89.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zanjan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$285 $285
$1,575 €1,411
-81.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23
3.85
497.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Zanjan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Clothing & Footwear
Zanjan
$115
Lisbon
$166 43.9% $51
Groceries & Markets
Zanjan
$115
Lisbon
$272 137% $158
Accommodation & Living
Zanjan
$99
Lisbon
$1.2K 1103% $1.1K
Eating Out
Zanjan
$51
Lisbon
$243 372% $191
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zanjan
$19
Lisbon
$212 1032% $194
Sport & Entertainment
Zanjan
$16
Lisbon
$64 288% $47
Getting Around
Zanjan
$13
Lisbon
$63 406% $51

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $136 in Zanjan and $1,608 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays about 5.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $13 in Zanjan vs $62 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 vs $272 per month, with Zanjan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇷 Zanjan
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
08:49 8:49 AM
05:19 5:19 AM
3 h 30 min behind Zanjan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
386,851
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
USD USD
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – USD Converter

USD exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Zanjan Lisbon 4,990 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Zanjan
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Zanjan vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zanjan and in Lisbon?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $428 in Zanjan and $2,210 in Lisbon, so Zanjan is about 81% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 82% lower in Zanjan. 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 Zanjan and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $136 in Zanjan 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 Zanjan and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $106 in Zanjan 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 137% 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 $428 in Zanjan versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zanjan but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zanjan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zanjan 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 Zanjan or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zanjan and Lisbon are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Where should expats move: Zanjan or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Zanjan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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