Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,302 per month in Dhahran vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,999 per month in Dhahran vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,697 per month in Dhahran vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Dhahran is about 43% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Dhahran sits 3% below the global median, while Lisbon is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.30 SAR 19.91
$16.19 €14.17
-67.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.06 SAR 150
$63.3 €55.4
-36.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.35 SAR 27.59
$10.32 €9.03
-28.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.01 SAR 7.57
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 SAR 5.96
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.67 SAR 13.79
$2.83 €2.48
29.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 SAR 2.62
$2.29 €2.00
-69.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 SAR 0.73
$1.58 €1.38
-87.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.40 €2.98
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.03 €3.52
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 SAR 5.68
$1.09 €0.95
38.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 SAR 4.43
$1.75 €1.53
-32.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 SAR 8.10
$1.76 €1.54
22.73%
Eggs
$2.36 SAR 8.86
$3.17 €2.77
-25.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.55 SAR 24.61
$13.19 €11.54
-50.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.74 SAR 32.83
$7.97 €6.97
9.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.55 SAR 50.9
$15.53 €13.59
-12.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 SAR 8.15
$2.37 €2.07
-8.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 SAR 5.34
$1.71 €1.49
-16.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 SAR 5.94
$2.01 €1.76
-21.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 SAR 4.88
$2.43 €2.13
-46.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 SAR 4.47
$1.76 €1.54
-32.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 SAR 3.66
$2.03 €1.78
-51.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 SAR 4.01
$1.92 €1.68
-44.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 SAR 2.15
$0.85 €0.74
-32.94%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.76 SAR 17.88
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 SAR 7.53
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 SAR 5.83
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.21 SAR 34.59
$6.58 €5.76
39.97%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.58 €4.88
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.33 €1.17
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.97 €2.60
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.04 SAR 3.91
$2.28 €1.99
-54.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.24 SAR 151
$45.79 €40.06
-12.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.37 SAR 5.13
$4.23 €3.70
-67.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.36 SAR 8.88
$0.81 €0.71
191.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.26 SAR 49.79
$18.44 €16.13
-28.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 SAR 2.39
$2.08 €1.82
-69.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K SAR 119.4K
$34.7K €30.3K
-8.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K SAR 91.7K
$39.2K €34.3K
-37.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 SAR 397
$148 €130
-28.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.75 SAR 138
$20.46 €17.90
79.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.3 SAR 271
$39.56 €34.61
82.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$184 SAR 689
$47.99 €41.99
282.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.54 SAR 133
$18.60 €16.27
91.08%
Cinema Ticket
$12.10 SAR 45.42
$9.22 €8.07
31.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$403 SAR 1,515
$616 €539
-34.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,692 SAR 36.4K
$16.4K €14.4K
-41.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 SAR 224
$103 €89.9
-41.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.7 SAR 281
$41.74 €36.52
78.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 SAR 322
$94.8 €82.9
-9.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 SAR 360
$122 €107
-21.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 SAR 1,650
$1,633 €1,428
-73.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 SAR 1,431
$1,232 €1,078
-69.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$840 SAR 3,153
$3,098 €2,711
-72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 SAR 2,378
$2,031 €1,777
-68.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,109 SAR 4,165
$7,831 €6,851
-85.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,053 SAR 3,955
$4,389 €3,840
-76.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhahran
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,884 SAR 10.8K
$1,607 €1,406
79.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.42
3.81
16.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dhahran: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Dhahran versus $1,633 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 79% higher in Dhahran, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Dhahran versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $267 – making Dhahran 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
Dhahran vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dhahran or Lisbon?
Lisbon costs about 76% more than Dhahran, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dhahran and in Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,953 per month in Dhahran and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dhahran or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhahran, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Dhahran compared to Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,302 in Dhahran and $2,291 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Dhahran compared to Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 14% less in Dhahran. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dhahran or in Lisbon?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,302, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dhahran or Lisbon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dhahran costs $1,302 versus $2,291 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dhahran compared to 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.
Should I move to Dhahran or to Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Dhahran. 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.

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