😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,402 in Al Khobar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $2,205 in Al Khobar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $3,008 in Al Khobar.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 65% more expensive than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon69% above, Al Khobar2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.93
$6.53SAR 24.53
164.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.6
$60.0SAR 225
5.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.83
$7.77SAR 29.18
46.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.66SAR 10.00
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.70SAR 10.15
-
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$4.49SAR 16.88
-28.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.11
$0.91SAR 3.41
169.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.41SAR 1.53
329.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.10
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.93
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.64SAR 6.15
-24.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.26SAR 4.73
57.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$2.46SAR 9.24
-38.21%
Eggs
$4.04€3.49
$2.39SAR 8.97
69.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.68
$7.18SAR 26.95
88.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.24
$9.91SAR 37.21
-15.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.75
$11.61SAR 43.59
57.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.67SAR 10.01
-14.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.74SAR 6.54
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.05SAR 7.70
-9.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.27
$1.83SAR 6.86
43.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.39SAR 5.23
38.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.65SAR 6.18
26.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.64SAR 6.16
-12.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.57SAR 2.15
47.37%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.63SAR 9.86
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.64SAR 6.17
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.89SAR 7.10
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.85
$6.59SAR 24.74
2.88%
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 Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.07
$0.78SAR 2.95
207.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.37
$67.3SAR 253
-30.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.60
$3.25SAR 12.21
28.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$2.71SAR 10.18
-57.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.26
$6.81SAR 25.57
159.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.01
$0.63SAR 2.38
268.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.5K
$65.6KSAR 246.2K
-46.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.8K
$21.9KSAR 82.2K
89.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$98.6SAR 370
72.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.69
$32.61SAR 122
-40.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€29.03
$70.2SAR 264
-52.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.50
$79.9SAR 300
-39.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.17
$36.21SAR 136
-45.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.56
$15.15SAR 56.9
-34.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€619
$600SAR 2,253
19.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.1K
$8,271SAR 31.1K
111.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.4
$63.5SAR 238
65.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.51
$81.4SAR 306
-42.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.2
$97.5SAR 366
6.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$92.5SAR 347
33.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,447
$620SAR 2,328
170.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,097
$499SAR 1,872
154.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,575
$1,184SAR 4,445
152.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,719
$847SAR 3,180
135.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,753
$2,411SAR 9,054
224.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,019
$1,423SAR 5,342
227.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,366
$1,843SAR 6,920
-14.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
5.88
-35.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $620 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 16% 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 $60.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $216 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 65% 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 16% 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: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $620 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 44% 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 $717 in Lisbon versus $600 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 $1,402 in Al Khobar versus $2,316 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 $1,402 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 65% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.