😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,213 in Al Muharraq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,756 in Al Muharraq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,299 in Al Muharraq.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 82% more expensive than Al Muharraq, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Al Muharraq is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$4.00BHD 1.51
297.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$26.62BHD 10.04
143.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$5.19BHD 1.96
102.50%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.90BHD 1.47
-26.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.84BHD 0.32
166.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.39BHD 0.15
284.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$5.44BHD 2.05
-35.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$8.05BHD 3.04
-51.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.34BHD 0.51
-14.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.55BHD 0.21
218.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.31BHD 0.87
-23.81%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.45BHD 0.92
31.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$4.45BHD 1.68
203.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$5.05BHD 1.90
56.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$8.17BHD 3.08
94.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.22BHD 0.46
89.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.67BHD 0.63
1.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.10BHD 0.41
82.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.16BHD 0.44
112.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.81BHD 0.31
127.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.53BHD 0.20
277.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.21BHD 0.46
59.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.51BHD 0.19
54.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$5.20BHD 1.96
27.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$18.50BHD 6.97
-69.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$3.34BHD 1.26
-58.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$3.19BHD 1.20
-6.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.84BHD 0.31
182.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$4.57BHD 1.72
-6.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$2.59BHD 0.98
-68.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$5.19BHD 1.96
252.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.43BHD 0.16
379.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$36.8KBHD 13.9K
-6.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$15.9KBHD 5,976
147.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$105BHD 39.57
40.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$21.38BHD 8.06
-4.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$38.44BHD 14.49
3.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$52.1BHD 19.63
-8.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$7.50BHD 2.83
22.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$388BHD 146
58.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$5,915BHD 2,230
171.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$27.00BHD 10.18
287.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$62.6BHD 23.59
-32.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$82.9BHD 31.24
13.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$88.9BHD 33.51
34.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$612BHD 231
165.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$502BHD 189
150.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$964BHD 363
214.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$801BHD 302
152.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$1,998BHD 753
290.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$1,617BHD 610
164.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al Muharraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$1,574BHD 593
1.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
8.56
-55.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Al Muharraq: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $612 in Al Muharraq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $27.00 in Al Muharraq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $202 per month, with Al Muharraq 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 Muharraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Al Muharraq?
Lisbon and Al Muharraq differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,213 including rent). Al Muharraq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Al Muharraq?
Lisbon pays 2% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Al Muharraq?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $612 in Al Muharraq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Al Muharraq?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,213 in Al Muharraq – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,213 in Al Muharraq versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Muharraq but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al Muharraq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Al Muharraq?
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 Muharraq safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al Muharraq 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 Muharraq?
Expats usually find Al Muharraq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.