🙂A single person spends $791 per month in Al Hillah vs $2,296 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Al Hillah vs $3,376 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,636 per month in Al Hillah vs $4,457 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂Al Hillah is about 66% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Al Hillah sits 42% below the global median, while Lisbon is 68% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.86IQD 6,367
$17.59€15.33
-72.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.43IQD 39.8K
$62.9€54.8
-51.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.95IQD 7,788
$11.58€10.10
-48.62%
Cappuccino
$3.05IQD 3,993
$3.10€2.70
-1.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37IQD 480
$2.49€2.17
-85.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22IQD 289
$1.74€1.52
-87.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.83IQD 3,705
$3.48€3.03
-18.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93IQD 5,144
$3.44€3.00
14.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09IQD 1,426
$1.15€1.00
-5.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78IQD 1,018
$1.91€1.66
-59.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.53IQD 2,009
$1.50€1.31
2.00%
Eggs
$1.81IQD 2,368
$3.98€3.47
-54.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.97IQD 5,203
$13.29€11.59
-70.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.74IQD 6,202
$8.01€6.98
-40.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.24IQD 18.6K
$18.04€15.73
-21.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18IQD 1,549
$2.35€2.05
-49.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08IQD 1,412
$1.75€1.53
-38.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06IQD 1,393
$1.85€1.62
-42.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78IQD 1,017
$2.55€2.22
-69.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66IQD 866
$1.84€1.61
-64.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64IQD 835
$2.10€1.83
-69.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56IQD 730
$1.49€1.30
-62.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59IQD 768
$0.82€0.71
-28.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83IQD 2,400
$7.10€6.19
-74.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.64IQD 17.9K
$5.91€5.15
130.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24IQD 2,937
$1.31€1.15
70.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20IQD 2,875
$2.13€1.86
3.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39IQD 513
$2.36€2.05
-83.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.3IQD 84.2K
$46.62€40.63
37.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26IQD 2,960
$4.08€3.55
-44.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52IQD 1,988
$1.14€0.99
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.46IQD 4,532
$17.09€14.90
-79.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 749
$2.31€2.01
-75.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1KIQD 22.4M
$34.1K€29.7K
-49.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0KIQD 24.9M
$41.4K€36.1K
-54.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.2IQD 99.8K
$169€147
-54.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14IQD 19.8K
$19.33€16.85
-21.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.51IQD 50.4K
$33.51€29.21
14.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.95IQD 30.1K
$48.84€42.57
-53.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.40IQD 25.4K
$19.43€16.94
-0.15%
Cinema Ticket
$7.55IQD 9,889
$9.57€8.34
-21.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.9IQD 124.3K
$696€607
-86.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$766IQD 1.0M
$17.4K€15.1K
-95.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.31IQD 29.2K
$105€91.8
-78.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74IQD 32.4K
$47.75€41.62
-48.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.1IQD 87.8K
$101€87.6
-33.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.37IQD 62.0K
$124€108
-61.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281IQD 368.6K
$1,662€1,449
-83.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180IQD 235.5K
$1,246€1,086
-85.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$495IQD 648.4K
$2,965€2,584
-83.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291IQD 380.8K
$2,049€1,786
-85.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,717IQD 2.2M
$7,834€6,829
-78.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$555IQD 726.2K
$4,464€3,892
-87.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hillah
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$514IQD 673.3K
$1,632€1,422
-68.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.12
3.78
8.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Hillah: September 15, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Al Hillah versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 217% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Al Hillah versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $277 – making Al Hillah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Al Hillah vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Al Hillah?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 190%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,187 per month in Al Hillah and $3,444 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 38% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $94.9 per month in Al Hillah and $696 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al Hillah or in Lisbon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $791, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al Hillah or Lisbon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al Hillah or Lisbon?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Hillah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.