😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,223 in Ad Dammam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Lisbon versus $1,882 in Ad Dammam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,369 in Lisbon versus $2,541 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 81% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Ad Dammam is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.71€13.81
$7.26SAR 27.24
116.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€55.3
$52.8SAR 198
19.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53€9.26
$8.01SAR 30.08
31.46%
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
$2.88€2.54
$3.67SAR 13.79
-21.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.98
$0.84SAR 3.15
167.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.37
$0.38SAR 1.42
310.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.98
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90€3.43
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$1.66SAR 6.23
-34.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.52
$1.40SAR 5.26
23.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.55
$2.07SAR 7.78
-14.98%
Eggs
$3.16€2.78
$2.30SAR 8.63
37.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.68
$6.04SAR 22.69
120.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.92
$7.32SAR 27.48
7.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.92
$10.05SAR 37.73
57.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40€2.11
$2.20SAR 8.27
9.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.50
$1.55SAR 5.83
9.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.43SAR 5.37
41.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.21
$1.65SAR 6.21
52.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.28SAR 4.79
45.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.81
$1.35SAR 5.07
52.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00€1.76
$1.37SAR 5.13
45.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.69
$0.55SAR 2.06
41.82%
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)
$6.65€5.84
$7.82SAR 29.37
-14.96%
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
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.05
$0.95SAR 3.58
145.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.45€39.96
$39.54SAR 148
14.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.58
$3.38SAR 12.69
20.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$2.66SAR 9.98
-69.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.65€16.39
$13.15SAR 49.38
41.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.76
$0.65SAR 2.44
207.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K€31.1K
$22.3KSAR 83.6K
58.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.3K
$20.7KSAR 77.8K
88.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150€132
$115SAR 432
30.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.55€18.07
$38.74SAR 145
-46.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.45€34.68
$63.3SAR 238
-37.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06€42.25
$70.3SAR 264
-31.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.70€16.44
$30.82SAR 116
-39.33%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.18
$15.11SAR 56.7
-38.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$628€552
$415SAR 1,557
51.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.5K
$8,335SAR 31.3K
97.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.3
$68.3SAR 257
48.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.55€36.52
$66.9SAR 251
-37.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€81.3
$92.9SAR 349
-0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123€108
$86.0SAR 323
42.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,431
$441SAR 1,654
269.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233€1,084
$374SAR 1,405
229.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,126€2,748
$781SAR 2,933
300.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,058€1,809
$639SAR 2,399
222.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,762€6,824
$1,304SAR 4,896
495.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,386€3,856
$800SAR 3,002
448.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,621€1,425
$1,527SAR 5,733
6.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.33
-12.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $441 in Ad Dammam. 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $186 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
Lisbon vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Ad Dammam?
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 Lisbon or in Ad Dammam?
Average pay runs 6% higher in Lisbon, 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 Lisbon compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $441 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,223 in Ad Dammam – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Ad Dammam?
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 Lisbon or in Ad Dammam?
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, Lisbon or Ad Dammam?
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 Lisbon compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ad Dammam 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.