😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $896 in Al-miqdadiyah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,348 in Al-miqdadiyah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,800 in Al-miqdadiyah.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 147% more expensive than Al-miqdadiyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Al-miqdadiyah is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$7.55IQD 9,882
110.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$23.17IQD 30.3K
179.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$9.02IQD 11.8K
16.52%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.25IQD 4,259
-11.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.49IQD 636
357.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.20IQD 262
650.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$1.95IQD 2,551
78.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.06IQD 2,701
88.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.32IQD 1,730
-13.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.87IQD 1,135
101.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.80IQD 2,354
-2.22%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.88IQD 2,466
71.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$7.48IQD 9,794
80.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.61IQD 6,032
71.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$14.03IQD 18.4K
13.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.19IQD 1,553
94.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.19IQD 1,556
42.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.19IQD 1,554
68.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.80IQD 1,052
207.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.71IQD 929
159.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.69IQD 909
189.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.72IQD 939
168.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.53IQD 690
49.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.72IQD 3,568
143.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$12.30IQD 16.1K
-53.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.43IQD 1,867
-4.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.03IQD 2,655
46.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.36IQD 475
558.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$31.57IQD 41.3K
44.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$2.25IQD 2,952
90.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.26IQD 2,959
-63.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$6.93IQD 9,081
164.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.68IQD 891
202.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$19.3KIQD 25.3M
77.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$20.5KIQD 26.8M
91.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$102IQD 134.1K
44.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$17.73IQD 23.2K
15.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$29.34IQD 38.4K
35.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$37.27IQD 48.8K
28.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$16.75IQD 21.9K
12.96%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$11.43IQD 15.0K
-19.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$264IQD 345.2K
132.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$3,234IQD 4.2M
396.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$32.47IQD 42.5K
222.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$49.77IQD 65.2K
-15.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$81.6IQD 106.8K
15.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$76.0IQD 99.6K
57.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$241IQD 315.8K
574.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$180IQD 235.3K
598.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$591IQD 773.7K
412.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$344IQD 451.1K
486.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Al-miqdadiyah: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $241 in Al-miqdadiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $23.00 in Al-miqdadiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $194 per month, with Al-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Al-miqdadiyah?
Lisbon and Al-miqdadiyah differ by about 147% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $896 including rent). Al-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,344 in Al-miqdadiyah 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 Al-miqdadiyah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $241 in Al-miqdadiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Al-miqdadiyah?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $264 in Al-miqdadiyah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $896 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al-miqdadiyah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al-miqdadiyah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Al-miqdadiyah?
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-miqdadiyah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al-miqdadiyah 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-miqdadiyah?
Expats usually find Al-miqdadiyah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 147% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.