šMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $483 in Al `alamayn.
šEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $758 in Al `alamayn.
šMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,033 in Al `alamayn.
šLiving in Lisbon is roughly 364% more expensive than Al `alamayn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
šThe two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Al `alamayn is 64% below.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73ā¬13.45
$5.96EĀ£314
163.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2ā¬54.0
$13.66EĀ£719
362.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32ā¬8.82
$4.05EĀ£213
154.81%
Cappuccino
$2.81ā¬2.40
$0.93EĀ£49.16
202.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33ā¬1.99
$0.35EĀ£18.15
565.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51ā¬1.29
$0.11EĀ£5.78
1272.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37ā¬2.88
$1.16EĀ£61.0
190.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91ā¬3.34
$3.00EĀ£158
30.33%
š Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08ā¬0.92
$0.99EĀ£52.3
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75ā¬1.50
$0.29EĀ£15.01
503.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75ā¬1.50
$0.58EĀ£30.60
201.72%
Eggs
$3.10ā¬2.65
$1.48EĀ£78.0
109.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28ā¬11.35
$2.41EĀ£127
451.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85ā¬6.71
$4.34EĀ£228
80.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05ā¬13.72
$7.55EĀ£397
112.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39ā¬2.04
$1.34EĀ£70.5
78.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72ā¬1.47
$0.56EĀ£29.51
207.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97ā¬1.68
$0.47EĀ£24.93
319.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55ā¬2.18
$0.27EĀ£14.34
844.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79ā¬1.53
$0.33EĀ£17.19
442.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97ā¬1.69
$0.44EĀ£23.24
347.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96ā¬1.68
$0.34EĀ£17.79
476.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84ā¬0.72
$0.23EĀ£12.11
265.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82ā¬5.83
$1.92EĀ£101
255.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85ā¬5.00
$4.27EĀ£225
37.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38ā¬1.18
$1.36EĀ£71.6
1.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92ā¬2.50
$1.80EĀ£94.9
62.22%
š Getting Around
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29ā¬1.96
$0.16EĀ£8.56
1331.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88ā¬40.08
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12ā¬3.52
$0.38EĀ£20.22
984.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81ā¬0.69
$0.29EĀ£15.04
179.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94ā¬16.20
$0.98EĀ£51.5
1832.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09ā¬1.78
$0.32EĀ£16.94
553.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kā¬30.0K
$35.5KEĀ£1.9M
-1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kā¬34.0K
$33.1KEĀ£1.7M
19.98%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150ā¬128
$24.46EĀ£1,287
511.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49ā¬17.52
$9.84EĀ£518
108.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15ā¬33.47
$15.91EĀ£837
146.07%
š Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65ā¬42.45
$21.99EĀ£1,157
125.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47ā¬15.80
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20ā¬7.86
$2.91EĀ£153
216.15%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624ā¬534
$32.53EĀ£1,711
1819.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kā¬13.6K
$1,841EĀ£96.8K
764.20%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102ā¬87.4
$17.98EĀ£946
468.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88ā¬34.95
$43.35EĀ£2,280
-5.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7ā¬81.8
$114EĀ£6,000
-16.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121ā¬104
$75.0EĀ£3,943
61.57%
š Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653ā¬1,413
$191EĀ£10.0K
767.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233ā¬1,054
$98.6EĀ£5,188
1150.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043ā¬2,602
$309EĀ£16.2K
886.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059ā¬1,761
$181EĀ£9,515
1038.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879ā¬6,736
$819EĀ£43.1K
861.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303ā¬3,679
$462EĀ£24.3K
830.59%
šµ Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566ā¬1,339
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
20
-80.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Al `alamayn: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $191 in Al `alamayn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
šDining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $14 in Al `alamayn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $111 per month, with Al `alamayn 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 Al `alamayn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al `alamayn cheaper than Lisbon?
Al `alamayn is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 364% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,365 in Lisbon and $725 in Al `alamayn 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 Lisbon and Al `alamayn?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $191 in Al `alamayn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Al `alamayn?
Supermarket bills run roughly 143% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Al `alamayn?
All in, you'll spend $2,243 per month in Lisbon versus $483 in Al `alamayn ā a 364% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Al `alamayn?
At $483 in Al `alamayn versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al `alamayn but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al `alamayn the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Al `alamayn more family-friendly?
For families, Al `alamayn 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, Lisbon or Al `alamayn?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al `alamayn 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 Al `alamayn gentler on the wallet ā expenses run 364% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.