🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $730 in Zhanjiang versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Zhanjiang versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,528 in Zhanjiang versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Zhanjiang costs roughly 68% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zhanjiang is 45% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.72¥18.40
$16.19€14.18
-83.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.15¥116
$63.3€55.5
-72.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.54¥37.42
$10.32€9.04
-46.32%
Cappuccino
$3.47¥23.44
$2.83€2.48
22.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44¥2.94
$2.29€2.01
-80.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.99
$1.58€1.38
-81.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.93¥6.26
$3.40€2.98
-72.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08¥14.03
$4.03€3.53
-48.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83¥12.37
$1.09€0.96
67.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52¥10.30
$1.75€1.53
-13.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91¥6.13
$1.76€1.54
-48.30%
Eggs
$1.24¥8.36
$3.17€2.77
-60.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.79¥86.5
$13.19€11.56
-3.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07¥20.73
$7.97€6.98
-61.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.35¥70.0
$15.53€13.60
-33.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75¥11.82
$2.37€2.07
-26.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26¥8.53
$1.71€1.49
-26.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41¥9.50
$2.01€1.76
-29.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35¥9.13
$2.43€2.13
-44.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67¥4.56
$1.76€1.54
-61.93%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.26
$2.03€1.78
-54.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56¥3.76
$1.92€1.68
-70.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.50
$0.85€0.74
-38.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16¥21.38
$6.58€5.76
-51.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09¥74.9
$5.58€4.89
98.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.39
$1.33€1.17
-39.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57¥10.62
$2.97€2.60
-47.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.97
$2.28€1.99
-87.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.46¥111
$45.79€40.10
-64.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43¥9.65
$4.23€3.70
-66.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.20
$0.81€0.71
-59.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.78¥45.81
$18.44€16.15
-63.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12¥7.55
$2.08€1.82
-46.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥129.7K
$34.7K€30.4K
-44.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K¥113.6K
$39.2K€34.3K
-57.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.55¥315
$148€130
-68.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.62¥65.0
$20.46€17.92
-52.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34¥76.6
$39.56€34.64
-71.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.99¥277
$47.99€42.03
-14.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.90¥93.9
$18.60€16.29
-25.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41¥43.29
$9.22€8.08
-30.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$341¥2,305
$616€540
-44.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K¥115.1K
$16.4K€14.4K
3.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.14¥298
$103€90.0
-57.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.79¥208
$41.74€36.55
-26.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.0¥486
$94.8€83.0
-24.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9¥499
$122€107
-39.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274¥1,850
$1,633€1,430
-83.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$185¥1,253
$1,232€1,079
-84.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597¥4,033
$3,098€2,713
-80.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358¥2,417
$2,031€1,779
-82.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,501¥23.7K
$7,831€6,858
-55.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,783¥12.1K
$4,389€3,844
-59.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhanjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,607€1,408
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
3.81
1.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zhanjiang: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Zhanjiang and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Zhanjiang vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $267 per month, with Zhanjiang 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
Zhanjiang vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zhanjiang and in Lisbon?
Zhanjiang and Lisbon differ by about 214% in total monthly costs ($730 vs $2,291 including rent). Zhanjiang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Zhanjiang compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,095 in Zhanjiang and $3,437 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Zhanjiang and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $274 in Zhanjiang versus $1,633 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 Zhanjiang and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $341 in Zhanjiang versus $616 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 36% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $730 in Zhanjiang versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhanjiang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zhanjiang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zhanjiang 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 Zhanjiang or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zhanjiang 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: Zhanjiang or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Zhanjiang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 214% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.