😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,321 in Al Wafrah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,222 in Al Wafrah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $3,122 in Al Wafrah.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 69% more expensive than Al Wafrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Al Wafrah is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$7.73KWD 2.37
109.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$58.4KWD 17.92
10.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$8.69KWD 2.67
19.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.52KWD 0.77
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.55KWD 1.09
-
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$5.35KWD 1.64
-48.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.64KWD 0.20
251.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.37KWD 0.11
324.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.41KWD 0.43
-23.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.09KWD 0.34
59.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.72KWD 0.53
1.16%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.04KWD 0.63
55.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$4.42KWD 1.36
203.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$6.59KWD 2.02
21.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$9.91KWD 3.04
62.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.33KWD 0.71
-2.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.61KWD 0.50
6.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.51KWD 0.46
28.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.43KWD 0.44
77.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.23KWD 0.38
48.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.15KWD 0.35
77.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.62KWD 0.50
22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.43KWD 0.13
97.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.05KWD 0.32
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.33KWD 0.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$2.90KWD 0.89
136.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.83KWD 0.25
174.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$43.32KWD 13.30
8.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$3.30KWD 1.01
23.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$3.17KWD 0.97
-74.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$16.57KWD 5.09
10.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.37KWD 0.11
443.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$20.5KKWD 6,284
72.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$18.8KKWD 5,765
104.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$62.4KWD 19.14
133.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$18.27KWD 5.61
14.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$26.15KWD 8.03
53.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$94.5KWD 29.01
-48.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$45.44KWD 13.95
-58.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$11.61KWD 3.56
-21.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$280KWD 85.8
116.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,082KWD 1,867
168.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$41.44KWD 12.72
152.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$41.76KWD 12.82
-1.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$86.7KWD 26.62
7.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$81.0KWD 24.85
46.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$806KWD 247
99.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$604KWD 185
104.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$1,571KWD 482
93.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,266KWD 389
62.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Al Wafrah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$4,350KWD 1,335
-63.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7.14
-46.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Al Wafrah: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $806 in Al Wafrah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Wafrah pays 175% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $58.0 in Al Wafrah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $168 per month, with Al Wafrah 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 Wafrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Al Wafrah?
Lisbon and Al Wafrah differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,321 including rent). Al Wafrah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Al Wafrah earns 175% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Al Wafrah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $806 in Al Wafrah. 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 Wafrah?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $280 in Al Wafrah. 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 61% 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 $1,321 in Al Wafrah versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Wafrah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Al Wafrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Al Wafrah?
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 Wafrah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Al Wafrah 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 Wafrah?
Expats usually find Al Wafrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.