Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Al-Rumaitha Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Al-Rumaitha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,176 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,574 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 195% more expensive than in Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Al-Rumaitha is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.17
$4.00 IQD 5,239
304.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.4
$25.15 IQD 32.9K
151.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.03
$6.71 IQD 8,785
53.80%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.60 IQD 3,408
8.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$0.39 IQD 515
487.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.20 IQD 265
690.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.86 IQD 3,745
18.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$2.91 IQD 3,809
38.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.33 IQD 1,738
-18.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$0.79 IQD 1,031
121.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.66 IQD 2,168
6.02%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$1.74 IQD 2,274
82.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.54
$4.37 IQD 5,727
201.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.97
$4.61 IQD 6,039
72.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.59
$13.31 IQD 17.4K
16.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$1.20 IQD 1,570
97.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.15 IQD 1,507
48.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$1.02 IQD 1,330
97.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$0.74 IQD 964
228.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.65 IQD 845
170.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$0.67 IQD 872
202.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.62 IQD 813
209.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.55 IQD 722
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$1.89 IQD 2,479
248.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.88
$12.90 IQD 16.9K
-56.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.85 IQD 2,421
-28.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$2.08 IQD 2,727
42.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$0.36 IQD 478
533.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.06
$31.29 IQD 41.0K
46.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$2.33 IQD 3,054
81.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.49 IQD 1,957
-45.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.13
$5.92 IQD 7,756
211.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$0.57 IQD 751
264.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$19.2K IQD 25.2M
80.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$19.6K IQD 25.7M
99.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$78.1 IQD 102.3K
89.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.90
$17.49 IQD 22.9K
16.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.61
$34.43 IQD 45.1K
14.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.99
$36.84 IQD 48.2K
30.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.27
$17.12 IQD 22.4K
8.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.07
$7.63 IQD 9,995
20.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €539
$153 IQD 200.1K
303.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$3,328 IQD 4.4M
394.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.9
$26.81 IQD 35.1K
283.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.52
$25.05 IQD 32.8K
66.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.9
$62.3 IQD 81.5K
52.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$40.45 IQD 53.0K
201.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,428
$239 IQD 313.3K
582.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,078
$179 IQD 234.9K
587.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,711
$584 IQD 764.6K
430.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,777
$338 IQD 442.7K
500.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
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-Rumaitha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $183 per month, with Al-Rumaitha 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-Rumaitha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-Rumaitha cheaper than Lisbon?
Al-Rumaitha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 195% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,165 in Al-Rumaitha 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.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Al-Rumaitha?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $239 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Al-Rumaitha?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $777 in Al-Rumaitha – a 195% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Al-Rumaitha runs roughly 46% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Al-Rumaitha?
At $777 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Rumaitha but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Rumaitha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Al-Rumaitha more family-friendly?
For families, Al-Rumaitha is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Al-Rumaitha?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al-Rumaitha 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-Rumaitha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 195% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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