😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $810 in Al Hillah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $1,264 in Al Hillah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $1,718 in Al Hillah, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 183% more than Al Hillah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Al Hillah is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$5.45IQD 7,132
197.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$31.09IQD 40.7K
103.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$6.12IQD 8,019
68.63%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.06IQD 4,005
-7.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.40IQD 518
472.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.18IQD 242
777.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.93IQD 3,833
16.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.90IQD 3,793
38.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.37IQD 1,800
-20.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.74IQD 963
136.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.65IQD 2,156
6.67%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.80IQD 2,359
76.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$4.49IQD 5,874
193.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$4.80IQD 6,290
66.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$14.01IQD 18.3K
10.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.23IQD 1,607
92.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.19IQD 1,564
43.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.04IQD 1,368
93.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.69IQD 899
252.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.66IQD 863
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.63IQD 820
222.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.59IQD 778
225.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.55IQD 721
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$1.90IQD 2,485
246.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$13.82IQD 18.1K
-59.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.84IQD 2,415
-27.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.17IQD 2,840
36.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.40IQD 520
470.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$65.4IQD 85.6K
-29.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.36IQD 3,092
79.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.55IQD 2,031
-47.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$3.37IQD 4,414
447.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.54IQD 703
285.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$17.4KIQD 22.8M
99.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$20.3KIQD 26.5M
93.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$75.8IQD 99.3K
95.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$15.12IQD 19.8K
35.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$39.00IQD 51.1K
1.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$23.41IQD 30.7K
105.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$19.19IQD 25.1K
-3.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$7.77IQD 10.2K
18.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$95.6IQD 125.2K
544.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$779IQD 1.0M
2009.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$27.22IQD 35.6K
277.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$27.73IQD 36.3K
50.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$61.6IQD 80.7K
53.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$43.71IQD 57.2K
179.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$364IQD 476.8K
348.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$196IQD 256.8K
528.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$667IQD 874.0K
364.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$313IQD 410.0K
548.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$1,746IQD 2.3M
348.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$545IQD 713.5K
705.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al Hillah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$517IQD 677.5K
210.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.67
-32.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Al Hillah: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $364 in Al Hillah. 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 211% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $31.00 in Al Hillah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $189 – making Al Hillah 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
Lisbon vs Al Hillah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Hillah cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 183%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $1,215 in Al Hillah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hillah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 43% less in Al Hillah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $616 per month in Lisbon and $95.6 in Al Hillah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Al Hillah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hillah, where all-in costs run around $810, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Al Hillah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Al Hillah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Hillah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Al Hillah?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Hillah. 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.