😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $887 in Al-musayyib.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,338 in Al-musayyib.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,789 in Al-musayyib.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 157% more expensive than in Al-musayyib, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Al-musayyib is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.85
$5.49IQD 7,189
186.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.8
$36.28IQD 47.5K
74.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.19
$7.48IQD 9,792
39.71%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.56
$2.99IQD 3,911
-2.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.37IQD 483
518.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.32
$0.19IQD 244
689.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.13
$3.43IQD 4,488
3.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.49
$2.81IQD 3,683
40.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.95
$1.17IQD 1,538
-7.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.55
$0.84IQD 1,104
109.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.51IQD 1,975
12.58%
Eggs
$3.25€2.86
$1.49IQD 1,956
118.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.65
$4.54IQD 5,947
191.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.77
$3.74IQD 4,897
105.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.87
$11.28IQD 14.8K
39.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€2.00
$1.18IQD 1,543
93.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.46
$1.13IQD 1,479
46.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.77
$1.01IQD 1,326
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.18
$0.58IQD 764
325.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.57
$0.59IQD 773
203.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.82
$0.59IQD 771
250.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.73
$0.54IQD 712
264.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$0.37IQD 481
124.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.76
$2.05IQD 2,685
219.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.89
$13.81IQD 18.1K
-59.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.76IQD 2,301
-24.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.64
$2.08IQD 2,721
44.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€2.00
$0.37IQD 479
513.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.75
$31.47IQD 41.2K
47.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.72
$3.91IQD 5,122
8.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.75
$1.52IQD 1,996
-44.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.56
$7.61IQD 9,960
147.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.77
$0.58IQD 755
248.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.7K
$19.9KIQD 26.1M
75.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.9K
$20.0KIQD 26.1M
98.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$180IQD 235.5K
-17.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€18.04
$25.74IQD 33.7K
-20.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.75
$40.78IQD 53.4K
-3.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.36
$36.66IQD 48.0K
31.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.17
$16.60IQD 21.7K
10.78%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€8.00
$7.63IQD 9,992
19.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€541
$167IQD 218.1K
269.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.3K
$3,566IQD 4.7M
356.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€89.3
$28.32IQD 37.1K
258.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€37.01
$30.26IQD 39.6K
39.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€81.2
$64.4IQD 84.3K
43.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$42.85IQD 56.1K
184.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,417
$241IQD 315.4K
569.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,102
$180IQD 236.1K
595.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,699
$583IQD 763.9K
426.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,791
$342IQD 448.0K
495.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,815
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,769
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al-musayyib
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,408
-
-
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 27, 2026
Last update for Al-musayyib: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $241 in Al-musayyib. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $36.00 in Al-musayyib for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $168 per month, with Al-musayyib 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-musayyib: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Al-musayyib?
Lisbon and Al-musayyib differ by about 157% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $887 including rent). Al-musayyib 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-musayyib?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $1,330 in Al-musayyib 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-musayyib?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $241 in Al-musayyib. 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-musayyib?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $167 in Al-musayyib. 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 59% 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 $887 in Al-musayyib versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al-musayyib but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al-musayyib the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Al-musayyib?
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-musayyib safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al-musayyib 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-musayyib?
Expats usually find Al-musayyib gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.