😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $867 in Al-miqdadiyah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,334 in Al-miqdadiyah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,800 in Al-miqdadiyah.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 164% more expensive than in Al-miqdadiyah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Al-miqdadiyah is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$7.74IQD 10.1K
109.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$23.30IQD 30.5K
171.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$8.61IQD 11.3K
19.86%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.15IQD 4,123
-10.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.52IQD 683
340.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.20IQD 262
690.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.94IQD 2,535
75.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.04IQD 2,670
97.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.32IQD 1,726
-17.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.80IQD 1,046
118.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.80IQD 2,362
-2.22%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.91IQD 2,506
65.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$7.50IQD 9,820
75.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$4.81IQD 6,297
65.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$13.95IQD 18.3K
11.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.20IQD 1,575
97.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.14IQD 1,497
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.18IQD 1,541
70.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.81IQD 1,057
200.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.72IQD 948
144.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.71IQD 932
185.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.72IQD 942
166.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.52IQD 682
63.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.70IQD 3,535
143.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$12.57IQD 16.5K
-55.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.37IQD 1,794
-2.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.03IQD 2,655
46.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.37IQD 480
516.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$30.79IQD 40.3K
48.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.24IQD 2,937
88.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$2.33IQD 3,047
-65.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$7.08IQD 9,270
160.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.69IQD 899
201.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$18.9KIQD 24.7M
83.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$20.9KIQD 27.3M
87.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$103IQD 134.5K
44.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$17.78IQD 23.3K
15.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$29.62IQD 38.8K
33.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$36.50IQD 47.8K
31.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$16.77IQD 22.0K
10.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$11.63IQD 15.2K
-20.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$269IQD 352.6K
128.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$3,226IQD 4.2M
409.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$32.94IQD 43.1K
211.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$49.23IQD 64.5K
-15.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$83.8IQD 109.7K
13.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$77.3IQD 101.2K
57.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$240IQD 313.9K
581.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$182IQD 238.1K
577.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$588IQD 769.4K
427.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$346IQD 452.7K
487.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al-miqdadiyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
-
-
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-miqdadiyah: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $240 in Al-miqdadiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $23.00 in Al-miqdadiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $195 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 in Al-miqdadiyah?
Lisbon and Al-miqdadiyah differ by about 164% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $867 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 $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,301 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 in Al-miqdadiyah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $240 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $269 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 37% 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 $867 in Al-miqdadiyah versus $2,291 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 164% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.