😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Lisbon versus $1,314 in Al-jahra'.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,348 in Lisbon versus $2,258 in Al-jahra'.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,429 in Lisbon versus $3,201 in Al-jahra'.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 73% more expensive than in Al-jahra', driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 64% above, Al-jahra' is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.13
$12.84KWD 3.94
36.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5€55.6
$64.6KWD 19.80
-0.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.04
$9.08KWD 2.79
28.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.16KWD 0.97
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.94KWD 1.52
-
Cappuccino
$3.26€2.81
$5.28KWD 1.62
-38.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.72KWD 0.22
245.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.44
$0.37KWD 0.11
351.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47€2.99
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.08
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.60KWD 0.49
-26.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.95€1.68
$1.53KWD 0.47
27.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.35
$1.90KWD 0.58
-17.89%
Eggs
$4.01€3.46
$2.16KWD 0.66
85.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27€11.45
$4.46KWD 1.37
197.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.42€7.26
$6.64KWD 2.03
26.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.23€15.72
$10.20KWD 3.13
78.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$2.54KWD 0.78
-8.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.85KWD 0.57
-6.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93€1.67
$1.81KWD 0.55
6.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64€2.28
$1.54KWD 0.47
71.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90€1.64
$1.37KWD 0.42
38.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.43KWD 0.44
47.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$2.31KWD 0.71
-37.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$0.54KWD 0.17
48.15%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.29KWD 1.01
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.07KWD 0.33
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.40KWD 0.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01€6.04
$2.69KWD 0.82
160.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.11
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.38€2.05
$0.78KWD 0.24
205.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.22€39.86
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.19€3.61
$4.76KWD 1.46
-11.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10€0.95
$3.27KWD 1.00
-66.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.26€14.88
$16.14KWD 4.95
6.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25€1.94
$0.33KWD 0.10
581.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$21.4KKWD 6,567
60.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K€35.9K
$20.1KKWD 6,161
107.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$171€147
$19.70KWD 6.04
767.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01€16.39
$22.97KWD 7.04
-17.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28€29.56
$30.62KWD 9.39
11.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65€42.81
$96.4KWD 29.55
-48.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51€16.82
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.71
$11.51KWD 3.53
-12.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€603
$306KWD 93.9
128.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K€15.3K
$9,349KWD 2,866
90.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$37.59KWD 11.53
178.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97€41.36
$39.52KWD 12.12
21.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$97.8KWD 29.99
4.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€111
$89.0KWD 27.29
44.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661€1,433
$723KWD 222
129.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,059
$575KWD 176
113.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,915€2,514
$1,750KWD 536
66.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,023€1,745
$1,356KWD 416
49.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,129€7,010
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,635€3,997
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al-jahra'
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,619€1,396
$2,986KWD 915
-45.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6.53
-42.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Last update for Al-jahra': September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $723 in Al-jahra'. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al-jahra' pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $65.0 in Al-jahra'. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $186, with Al-jahra' cheaper for home cooking.
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-jahra': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-jahra' cheaper than Lisbon?
Al-jahra' is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Al-jahra'?
On paper, salaries run 84% lower in Al-jahra'. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Al-jahra'?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $723 in Al-jahra'. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $699 in Lisbon versus $306 in Al-jahra'. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Al-jahra'?
Dining out is cheaper in Al-jahra' – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $64.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Al-jahra'?
At $1,314 in Al-jahra' versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-jahra' but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al-jahra' the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Al-jahra' more family-friendly?
For families, Al-jahra' 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-jahra'?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al-jahra' 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-jahra' gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.