😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,332 in Al Khobar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,100 in Al Khobar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,868 in Al Khobar.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 72% more expensive than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Al Khobar0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$6.82SAR 25.60
137.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$54.0SAR 203
17.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$8.19SAR 30.77
26.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.98SAR 7.44
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.70SAR 10.13
-
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$4.26SAR 16.01
-33.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.96SAR 3.61
138.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.49SAR 1.83
222.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.69SAR 6.34
-35.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$1.40SAR 5.24
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.32SAR 8.72
-24.14%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.88SAR 10.81
10.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$6.94SAR 26.05
90.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$9.12SAR 34.26
-12.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$12.61SAR 47.34
23.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.54SAR 9.53
-6.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.72SAR 6.45
-0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.13SAR 8.00
-5.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.57SAR 5.88
54.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.41SAR 5.30
24.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.72SAR 6.47
18.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.70SAR 6.38
12.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.60SAR 2.24
41.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.70SAR 10.14
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.46SAR 5.48
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.88SAR 7.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$6.51SAR 24.45
1.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.92SAR 3.44
147.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$60.1SAR 225
-23.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.26SAR 8.48
87.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.35SAR 5.06
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$6.60SAR 24.78
179.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.65SAR 2.43
220.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$21.4KSAR 80.2K
62.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$22.7KSAR 85.4K
72.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$124SAR 466
19.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$34.51SAR 130
-40.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$80.7SAR 303
-51.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$109SAR 410
-56.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$36.80SAR 138
-49.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$17.36SAR 65.2
-46.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$306SAR 1,147
101.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$7,541SAR 28.3K
118.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$63.4SAR 238
61.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$69.8SAR 262
-40.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$100SAR 376
-5.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$80.4SAR 302
51.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$433SAR 1,627
276.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$401SAR 1,505
207.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$1,059SAR 3,977
192.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$813SAR 3,054
149.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$2,442SAR 9,169
220.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$1,423SAR 5,344
208.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$1,856SAR 6,971
-13.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.84
-0.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $433 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $54.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $217 per month, with Al Khobar 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 Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Al Khobar?
Al Khobar wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Khobar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Al Khobar?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Al Khobar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $433 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 31% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and in Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $306 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Al Khobar?
At $1,332 in Al Khobar versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Khobar but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al Khobar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Al Khobar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al Khobar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,332 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al Khobar hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Al Khobar?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al Khobar 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Khobar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.