🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,215 in Ad Dammam versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,866 in Ad Dammam versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,516 in Ad Dammam versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 46% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ad Dammam is 12% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09SAR 30.39
$17.55€15.12
-53.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.39SAR 129
$64.5€55.6
-46.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.57SAR 24.69
$11.65€10.04
-43.61%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91SAR 7.17
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23SAR 8.37
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.10SAR 11.65
$3.26€2.81
-4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79SAR 2.95
$2.49€2.15
-68.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20SAR 0.75
$1.67€1.44
-88.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.47€2.99
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.58€3.08
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82SAR 6.84
$1.18€1.02
54.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33SAR 5.01
$1.95€1.68
-31.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92SAR 7.21
$1.56€1.35
23.08%
Eggs
$2.13SAR 7.98
$4.01€3.46
-46.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.39SAR 27.77
$13.27€11.44
-44.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.82SAR 29.36
$8.42€7.26
-7.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.72SAR 47.79
$18.23€15.72
-30.22%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18SAR 8.17
$2.32€2.00
-6.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.11
$1.73€1.49
-5.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.96
$1.93€1.67
-17.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.09
$2.64€2.27
-38.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07SAR 4.02
$1.90€1.64
-43.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20SAR 4.52
$2.11€1.82
-43.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.44€1.24
-11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.18
$0.80€0.69
-27.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.09SAR 15.37
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SAR 5.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SAR 8.14
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.80SAR 29.30
$7.01€6.04
11.27%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.92€5.11
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.36€1.18
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15€1.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97SAR 3.63
$2.38€2.05
-59.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.89SAR 135
$46.22€39.85
-22.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.60SAR 9.75
$4.19€3.61
-37.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.60SAR 9.78
$1.10€0.95
136.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.41SAR 50.4
$17.26€14.88
-22.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.42
$2.25€1.94
-71.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.7KSAR 254.2K
$34.5K€29.7K
96.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KSAR 79.9K
$41.6K€35.9K
-48.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128SAR 482
$171€147
-24.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.46SAR 126
$19.01€16.38
76.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1SAR 233
$34.28€29.55
81.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.8SAR 292
$49.65€42.80
56.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.85SAR 108
$19.51€16.81
47.87%
Cinema Ticket
$13.40SAR 50.3
$10.10€8.71
32.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$417SAR 1,566
$699€603
-40.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,868SAR 29.5K
$17.8K€15.3K
-55.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.40SAR 155
$105€90.2
-60.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.15SAR 185
$47.97€41.35
2.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8SAR 360
$102€87.8
-5.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.5SAR 340
$128€111
-29.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$567SAR 2,128
$1,661€1,432
-65.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369SAR 1,388
$1,228€1,059
-69.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,007SAR 3,781
$2,915€2,513
-65.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663SAR 2,490
$2,023€1,744
-67.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,379SAR 5,179
$8,129€7,007
-83.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$595SAR 2,235
$4,635€3,996
-87.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,532SAR 5,754
$1,619€1,396
-5.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
3.78
56.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $567 in Ad Dammam and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 6% 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: $34.00 in Ad Dammam vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $281 per month, with Ad Dammam 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
Ad Dammam vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Lisbon?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 87% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ad Dammam or in Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $567 in Ad Dammam versus $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ad Dammam compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,215 per month in Ad Dammam versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam compared to Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 29% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ad Dammam or in Lisbon?
At $1,215 in Ad Dammam versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ad Dammam or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ad Dammam delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,215 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ad Dammam hard to pass up.
How safe is Ad Dammam compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.