🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $675 in As Samawah versus $2,296 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $969 in As Samawah versus $3,376 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,263 in As Samawah versus $4,457 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in As Samawah costs roughly 71% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: As Samawah is 51% below, Lisbon is 68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.84IQD 6,334
$17.59€15.23
-72.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.74IQD 45.4K
$62.9€54.4
-44.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.56IQD 9,889
$11.58€10.03
-34.72%
Cappuccino
$3.08IQD 4,031
$3.10€2.68
-0.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 521
$2.49€2.15
-83.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19IQD 254
$1.74€1.51
-89.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.72IQD 4,872
$3.48€3.01
6.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73IQD 4,877
$3.44€2.98
8.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08IQD 1,408
$1.15€0.99
-6.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77IQD 1,012
$1.91€1.65
-59.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51IQD 1,976
$1.50€1.30
0.67%
Eggs
$1.75IQD 2,295
$3.98€3.45
-56.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.51IQD 1,974
$13.29€11.51
-88.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83IQD 6,313
$8.01€6.94
-39.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.91IQD 18.2K
$18.04€15.62
-22.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.09IQD 1,429
$2.35€2.04
-53.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08IQD 1,416
$1.75€1.52
-38.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94IQD 1,235
$1.85€1.61
-49.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.42IQD 547
$2.55€2.21
-83.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55IQD 718
$1.84€1.60
-70.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67IQD 873
$2.10€1.82
-68.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67IQD 883
$1.49€1.29
-55.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68IQD 892
$0.82€0.71
-17.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85IQD 2,418
$7.10€6.15
-73.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48IQD 9,782
$5.91€5.11
26.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22IQD 2,907
$1.31€1.14
69.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26IQD 2,960
$2.13€1.85
6.10%
🚌 Getting Around
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.36€2.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.50IQD 29.4K
$46.62€40.36
-51.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24IQD 2,926
$4.08€3.53
-45.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49IQD 1,944
$1.14€0.99
30.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13IQD 4,092
$17.09€14.80
-81.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.62IQD 810
$2.31€2.00
-73.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KIQD 24.6M
$34.1K€29.5K
-44.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8KIQD 24.6M
$41.4K€35.8K
-54.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3IQD 107.7K
$169€146
-51.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.13IQD 25.0K
$19.33€16.74
-1.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.37IQD 25.3K
$33.51€29.01
-42.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.80IQD 10.2K
$48.84€42.28
-84.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.36IQD 25.3K
$19.43€16.82
-0.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14IQD 11.9K
$9.57€8.28
-4.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$57.4IQD 75.1K
$696€602
-91.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,506IQD 2.0M
$17.4K€15.0K
-91.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.18IQD 38.2K
$105€91.2
-72.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.61IQD 49.2K
$47.75€41.34
-21.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.7IQD 97.7K
$101€87.0
-25.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.79IQD 62.5K
$124€108
-61.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122IQD 159.0K
$1,662€1,439
-92.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117IQD 152.6K
$1,246€1,079
-90.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$180IQD 235.0K
$2,965€2,566
-93.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,049€1,773
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,834€6,782
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,464€3,865
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
As Samawah
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,632€1,412
-
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 As Samawah: September 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in As Samawah and $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in As Samawah vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $277 per month, with As Samawah 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
As Samawah vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than As Samawah?
As Samawah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 240% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,013 in As Samawah and $3,444 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between As Samawah and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in As Samawah versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in As Samawah runs roughly 107% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $57.4 in As Samawah versus $696 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in As Samawah or in Lisbon?
At $675 in As Samawah versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in As Samawah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes As Samawah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is As Samawah or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, As Samawah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, As Samawah or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, As Samawah 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find As Samawah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 240% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
As Samawah vs other spots: cost of living compared