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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,181 in Al-Rumaitha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,596 in Al-Rumaitha.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 188% more expensive than Al-Rumaitha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Al-Rumaitha is 43% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$4.07 IQD 5,330
290.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$24.66 IQD 32.3K
162.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$6.94 IQD 9,087
51.44%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.57 IQD 3,369
11.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.39 IQD 516
474.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.16 IQD 216
837.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$2.86 IQD 3,743
22.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.95 IQD 3,869
31.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.33 IQD 1,736
-14.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.85 IQD 1,112
105.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.57 IQD 2,060
12.10%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.78 IQD 2,329
80.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$4.38 IQD 5,740
207.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.73 IQD 6,192
67.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$12.99 IQD 17.0K
22.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.20 IQD 1,577
92.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.15 IQD 1,500
47.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.06 IQD 1,383
89.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.70 IQD 918
251.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.70 IQD 920
162.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.63 IQD 830
217.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.64 IQD 835
201.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.55 IQD 722
43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$1.94 IQD 2,546
240.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$13.18 IQD 17.3K
-56.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$1.84 IQD 2,414
-25.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.14 IQD 2,806
38.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.37 IQD 483
540.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$31.62 IQD 41.4K
44.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$2.34 IQD 3,070
83.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.48 IQD 1,935
-44.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$6.14 IQD 8,044
198.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.54 IQD 703
281.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$18.8K IQD 24.6M
82.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$20.0K IQD 26.1M
96.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$76.9 IQD 100.7K
92.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$17.44 IQD 22.8K
17.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$34.89 IQD 45.7K
13.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$36.96 IQD 48.4K
29.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$16.50 IQD 21.6K
14.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$7.64 IQD 10.0K
20.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$150 IQD 196.0K
310.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$3,219 IQD 4.2M
398.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$27.34 IQD 35.8K
282.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$25.62 IQD 33.6K
64.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$62.5 IQD 81.9K
50.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$40.65 IQD 53.2K
194.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$244 IQD 319.4K
567.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$176 IQD 229.9K
614.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$570 IQD 746.9K
431.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$343 IQD 449.5K
488.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al-Rumaitha
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-Rumaitha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $244 in Al-Rumaitha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Al-Rumaitha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $184 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 188% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,150 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: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $244 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 vs Al-Rumaitha?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $766 in Al-Rumaitha – a 188% 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 44% 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 Lisbon or Al-Rumaitha?
At $766 in Al-Rumaitha versus $2,210 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 188% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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