🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $589 in Zhenjiang versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,000 in Zhenjiang versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,410 in Zhenjiang versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Zhenjiang costs roughly 73% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zhenjiang is 56% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85¥19.28
$15.91€13.69
-82.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.62¥180
$64.8€55.7
-58.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98¥33.68
$10.51€9.04
-52.62%
Cappuccino
$2.11¥14.26
$2.87€2.47
-26.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.96
$2.24€1.93
-87.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$1.50€1.29
-85.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.07¥7.21
$3.49€3.00
-69.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71¥11.56
$3.88€3.34
-55.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71¥11.54
$1.14€0.98
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37¥9.25
$1.75€1.51
-21.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81¥5.51
$1.76€1.51
-53.98%
Eggs
$1.78¥12.03
$3.22€2.77
-44.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.43¥36.74
$13.49€11.61
-59.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.69¥18.18
$7.91€6.81
-65.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.83¥66.5
$15.87€13.65
-38.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64¥11.06
$2.31€1.99
-29.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65¥11.18
$1.70€1.46
-2.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64¥11.06
$2.01€1.73
-18.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26¥8.54
$2.46€2.12
-48.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76¥5.16
$1.84€1.59
-58.70%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98¥6.65
$2.00€1.72
-51.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43¥2.94
$1.93€1.66
-77.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.83
$0.79€0.68
-65.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22¥28.52
$6.61€5.68
-36.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.78¥79.6
$5.72€4.92
105.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75¥5.10
$1.37€1.17
-45.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42¥9.63
$2.97€2.56
-52.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.81
$2.37€2.04
-88.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.99¥47.27
$45.56€39.19
-84.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.26¥8.54
$4.29€3.69
-70.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40¥2.70
$0.82€0.70
-51.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.25¥28.71
$18.30€15.74
-76.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥7.90
$2.06€1.78
-43.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0K¥115.1K
$34.3K€29.5K
-50.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥114.7K
$39.3K€33.8K
-56.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.52¥301
$148€127
-69.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.32¥76.5
$20.52€17.65
-44.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.91¥80.5
$39.61€34.08
-69.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.06¥284
$47.85€41.16
-12.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.47¥186
$18.92€16.28
45.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.10¥41.23
$9.18€7.90
-33.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$411¥2,782
$614€528
-32.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K¥114.9K
$16.0K€13.8K
5.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.42¥287
$105€90.0
-59.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.78¥188
$42.06€36.18
-33.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.16¥278
$94.0€80.8
-56.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.95¥284
$120€103
-64.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211¥1,426
$1,628€1,400
-87.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138¥930
$1,255€1,080
-89.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$480¥3,246
$3,030€2,607
-84.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347¥2,343
$2,020€1,738
-82.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,003¥13.5K
$7,800€6,709
-74.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$876¥5,922
$4,273€3,675
-79.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhenjiang
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$962¥6,506
$1,603€1,379
-39.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
3.81
0.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zhenjiang: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Zhenjiang and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 67% 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: $27.00 in Zhenjiang vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $269 per month, with Zhenjiang 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
Zhenjiang vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zhenjiang and Lisbon?
Zhenjiang and Lisbon differ by about 275% in total monthly costs ($589 vs $2,210 including rent). Zhenjiang 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 67% 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 Zhenjiang and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Zhenjiang versus $1,628 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 Zhenjiang and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $411 in Zhenjiang versus $614 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 58% 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 $589 in Zhenjiang versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhenjiang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Zhenjiang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zhenjiang 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 Zhenjiang or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zhenjiang 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: Zhenjiang or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Zhenjiang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 275% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.