🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Ad Dammam versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,891 in Ad Dammam versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,575 in Ad Dammam versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 47% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ad Dammam is 10% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.49SAR 28.13
$15.94€13.82
-53.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1SAR 203
$63.4€54.9
-14.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78SAR 29.22
$10.38€9.00
-25.05%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91SAR 7.17
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.82
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.60SAR 13.51
$2.79€2.42
29.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89SAR 3.34
$2.34€2.03
-61.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35SAR 1.31
$1.57€1.36
-77.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.43€2.97
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.91€3.39
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$1.08€0.93
53.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45SAR 5.45
$1.77€1.53
-18.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00SAR 7.53
$1.71€1.48
16.96%
Eggs
$2.24SAR 8.41
$3.15€2.73
-28.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.01SAR 22.58
$13.68€11.86
-56.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22SAR 27.12
$8.01€6.94
-9.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.97SAR 37.43
$15.52€13.45
-35.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17SAR 8.16
$2.29€1.99
-5.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50SAR 5.62
$1.64€1.42
-8.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41SAR 5.28
$1.94€1.68
-27.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.02
$2.51€2.18
-36.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22SAR 4.59
$1.79€1.55
-31.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39SAR 5.22
$2.01€1.74
-30.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36SAR 5.10
$1.97€1.70
-30.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.23
$0.84€0.73
-29.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.19SAR 15.72
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SAR 6.09
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.50
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.84SAR 29.45
$6.79€5.88
15.46%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.67€4.92
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.39€1.20
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.02€2.61
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95SAR 3.56
$2.27€1.97
-58.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.76SAR 153
$45.44€39.38
-10.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.36SAR 12.61
$4.29€3.72
-21.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71SAR 10.18
$0.85€0.74
218.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.53SAR 50.8
$18.28€15.84
-25.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.28
$1.99€1.72
-69.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KSAR 85.9K
$35.0K€30.4K
-34.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KSAR 77.7K
$39.5K€34.3K
-47.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 440
$146€127
-19.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.94SAR 146
$20.45€17.72
90.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.3SAR 234
$38.98€33.78
59.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.0SAR 259
$48.98€42.46
40.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.82SAR 116
$18.83€16.32
63.67%
Cinema Ticket
$15.05SAR 56.5
$9.52€8.25
58.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414SAR 1,553
$608€527
-31.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,178SAR 30.7K
$16.5K€14.3K
-50.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0SAR 259
$104€90.0
-33.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.6SAR 254
$42.12€36.50
60.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.7SAR 341
$92.2€79.9
-1.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9SAR 323
$120€104
-28.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445SAR 1,670
$1,621€1,405
-72.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$385SAR 1,447
$1,268€1,099
-69.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$800SAR 3,004
$3,048€2,642
-73.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$635SAR 2,383
$2,009€1,741
-68.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,331SAR 4,998
$7,663€6,641
-82.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$804SAR 3,020
$4,329€3,752
-81.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,884SAR 7,075
$1,585€1,374
18.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
3.81
13.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ad Dammam: June 6, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Ad Dammam and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Ad Dammam pays 19% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Ad Dammam versus $1,621 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 $1,207 per month in Ad Dammam versus $2,263 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 vs Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 11% 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 Lisbon?
At $1,207 in Ad Dammam versus $2,263 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 $1,207 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.