🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Ad Dammam versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,882 in Ad Dammam versus $3,289 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,541 in Ad Dammam versus $4,369 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 45% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ad Dammam is 8% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.26SAR 27.24
$15.71€13.81
-53.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8SAR 198
$62.9€55.3
-16.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.01SAR 30.08
$10.53€9.26
-23.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85SAR 6.94
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86SAR 6.98
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.67SAR 13.79
$2.88€2.54
27.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84SAR 3.15
$2.25€1.98
-62.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38SAR 1.42
$1.56€1.37
-75.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.39€2.98
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.90€3.43
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66SAR 6.23
$1.08€0.95
53.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40SAR 5.26
$1.73€1.52
-19.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07SAR 7.78
$1.76€1.55
17.61%
Eggs
$2.30SAR 8.63
$3.16€2.78
-27.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.04SAR 22.69
$13.29€11.68
-54.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.32SAR 27.48
$7.87€6.92
-6.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.05SAR 37.73
$15.84€13.92
-36.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.27
$2.40€2.11
-8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.83
$1.70€1.50
-8.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.37
$2.03€1.78
-29.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.21
$2.52€2.21
-34.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.79
$1.86€1.63
-31.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35SAR 5.07
$2.06€1.81
-34.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37SAR 5.13
$2.00€1.76
-31.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.06
$0.78€0.69
-29.49%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.04SAR 15.18
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SAR 5.87
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94SAR 7.27
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82SAR 29.37
$6.65€5.84
17.59%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.78€5.08
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.38€1.22
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.02€2.65
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95SAR 3.58
$2.33€2.05
-59.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.54SAR 148
$45.45€39.96
-13.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.38SAR 12.69
$4.08€3.58
-17.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.66SAR 9.98
$0.80€0.70
232.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.15SAR 49.38
$18.65€16.39
-29.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.44
$2.00€1.76
-67.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KSAR 83.6K
$35.4K€31.1K
-37.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KSAR 77.8K
$39.1K€34.3K
-46.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SAR 432
$150€132
-23.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.74SAR 145
$20.55€18.07
88.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3SAR 238
$39.45€34.68
60.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.3SAR 264
$48.06€42.25
46.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.82SAR 116
$18.70€16.44
64.81%
Cinema Ticket
$15.11SAR 56.7
$9.30€8.18
62.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$415SAR 1,557
$628€552
-33.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,335SAR 31.3K
$16.5K€14.5K
-49.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3SAR 257
$102€89.3
-32.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.9SAR 251
$41.55€36.52
60.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.9SAR 349
$92.5€81.3
0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.0SAR 323
$123€108
-29.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$441SAR 1,654
$1,628€1,431
-72.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374SAR 1,405
$1,233€1,084
-69.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781SAR 2,933
$3,126€2,748
-75.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$639SAR 2,399
$2,058€1,809
-68.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,304SAR 4,896
$7,762€6,824
-83.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$800SAR 3,002
$4,386€3,856
-81.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,527SAR 5,733
$1,621€1,425
-5.80%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Ad Dammam and $1,628 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: $53.0 in Ad Dammam vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 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 81% 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: $441 in Ad Dammam versus $1,628 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 $1,223 per month in Ad Dammam versus $2,210 in Lisbon – a 81% 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 15% 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 $1,223 in Ad Dammam versus $2,210 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 $1,223 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 81% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.