😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,172 in Al-hawiyah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,774 in Al-hawiyah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $2,375 in Al-hawiyah.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 98% more expensive than in Al-hawiyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Al-hawiyah is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.93
$6.77SAR 25.42
155.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.6
$37.01SAR 139
70.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.83
$7.84SAR 29.45
45.28%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.68SAR 6.29
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.96SAR 7.37
-
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$3.43SAR 12.87
-7.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.11
$0.82SAR 3.06
198.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.24SAR 0.90
633.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.10
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.93
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.74SAR 6.52
-28.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.01SAR 3.81
96.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$2.13SAR 8.00
-28.64%
Eggs
$4.04€3.49
$2.33SAR 8.76
73.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.68
$7.52SAR 28.23
80.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.24
$7.85SAR 29.48
6.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.75
$13.03SAR 48.92
40.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.14SAR 8.03
7.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.62SAR 6.10
7.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$1.59SAR 5.98
16.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.27
$1.60SAR 6.02
64.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.15SAR 4.31
66.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.30SAR 4.89
60.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.20SAR 4.49
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.59SAR 2.23
42.37%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.82SAR 10.59
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73SAR 6.50
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.09SAR 7.83
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.85
$6.48SAR 24.31
4.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.93
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.07
$1.08SAR 4.06
122.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.37
$35.32SAR 133
32.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.60
$2.97SAR 11.15
40.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$1.78SAR 6.68
-35.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.26
$13.14SAR 49.33
34.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.01
$0.65SAR 2.42
256.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.5K
$44.6KSAR 167.6K
-20.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.8K
$21.3KSAR 79.9K
94.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$103SAR 387
65.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.69
$32.87SAR 123
-41.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€29.03
$65.2SAR 245
-48.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.50
$82.7SAR 310
-41.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.17
$37.50SAR 141
-46.93%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.56
$13.42SAR 50.4
-26.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€619
$347SAR 1,303
106.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.1K
$6,759SAR 25.4K
158.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.4
$49.88SAR 187
110.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.51
$59.5SAR 223
-21.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.2
$97.7SAR 367
5.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$86.8SAR 326
42.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,447
$572SAR 2,149
193.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,097
$344SAR 1,292
269.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,575
$880SAR 3,306
239.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,719
$551SAR 2,067
261.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,753
$2,308SAR 8,667
239.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,019
$1,388SAR 5,210
235.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.47
-30.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Al-hawiyah: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $572 in Al-hawiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $37.00 in Al-hawiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $199 per month, with Al-hawiyah 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-hawiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Al-hawiyah?
Lisbon and Al-hawiyah differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,172 including rent). Al-hawiyah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Al-hawiyah?
You'd need roughly $3,474 in Lisbon and $1,759 in Al-hawiyah 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Al-hawiyah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $572 in Al-hawiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Al-hawiyah – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Al-hawiyah?
All in, you'll spend $2,316 per month in Lisbon versus $1,172 in Al-hawiyah – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,172 in Al-hawiyah versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al-hawiyah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al-hawiyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Al-hawiyah?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Al-hawiyah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al-hawiyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Al-hawiyah?
Expats usually find Al-hawiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.