😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $485 in Al `alamayn.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $770 in Al `alamayn.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,055 in Al `alamayn.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 366% more expensive than Al `alamayn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Al `alamayn is 64% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$5.82E£297
173.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$13.92E£711
355.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$4.02E£205
158.21%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$0.90E£46.12
210.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.32E£16.26
631.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.10E£5.30
1470.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$1.17E£59.5
193.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$2.91E£149
34.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.99E£50.6
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$0.29E£14.74
510.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$0.58E£29.49
194.83%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$1.52E£77.7
107.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$2.52E£129
442.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$4.26E£218
88.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$7.39E£377
110.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.34E£68.5
70.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$0.60E£30.75
173.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$0.44E£22.54
340.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$0.25E£12.73
904.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$0.33E£16.61
442.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.41E£21.09
390.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.34E£17.35
479.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.23E£11.76
265.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$1.95E£99.6
248.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$5.50E£281
3.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.31E£67.0
6.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.87E£95.7
61.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.17E£8.54
1235.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$0.42E£21.29
921.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$0.31E£15.86
174.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$1.01E£51.6
1709.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.30E£15.11
563.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$34.9KE£1.8M
0.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$33.2KE£1.7M
19.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$24.25E£1,238
502.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$9.66E£494
111.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$15.83E£808
146.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$22.19E£1,133
120.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$2.98E£152
219.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$32.97E£1,684
1744.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$1,838E£93.9K
798.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$17.75E£907
485.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$42.16E£2,153
-0.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$113E£5,791
-18.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$75.1E£3,835
59.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$186E£9,495
772.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$98.1E£5,012
1191.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$314E£16.0K
871.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$174E£8,897
1052.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$752E£38.4K
919.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$400E£20.4K
982.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al `alamayn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
20
-80.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Al `alamayn: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $186 in Al `alamayn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $14.00 in Al `alamayn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $113 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 366% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $728 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $186 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 138% 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 $2,263 per month in Lisbon versus $485 in Al `alamayn – a 366% 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 $485 in Al `alamayn versus $2,263 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 – expenses run 366% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.