😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,333 in Ar-rawdah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,249 in Ar-rawdah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $3,165 in Ar-rawdah.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 72% more expensive than in Ar-rawdah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Ar-rawdah is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.32
$11.29KWD 3.47
55.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$63.7KWD 19.58
-1.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.09
$9.04KWD 2.78
28.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.30KWD 1.01
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.89KWD 1.50
-
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$5.30KWD 1.63
-41.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.71KWD 0.22
250.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.31KWD 0.10
461.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.60KWD 0.49
-28.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.53KWD 0.47
24.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$2.00KWD 0.61
-25.00%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$2.07KWD 0.64
92.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.58
$4.35KWD 1.34
205.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$6.83KWD 2.10
17.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.72
$10.45KWD 3.21
72.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.44KWD 0.75
-3.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.94KWD 0.59
-9.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.81KWD 0.56
2.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.50KWD 0.46
70.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.39KWD 0.43
32.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.48KWD 0.45
41.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$2.38KWD 0.73
-37.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.60KWD 0.18
36.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.32KWD 1.02
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.02KWD 0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.38KWD 0.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$2.80KWD 0.86
153.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.82KWD 0.25
187.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.61
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$4.82KWD 1.48
-15.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$3.19KWD 0.98
-64.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.89
$16.00KWD 4.92
6.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.33KWD 0.10
600.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$21.1KKWD 6,487
61.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$20.4KKWD 6,255
103.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$66.2KWD 20.33
154.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.84
$22.53KWD 6.92
-14.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.20
$29.99KWD 9.21
11.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.55
$102KWD 31.20
-51.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$11.47KWD 3.52
-16.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$300KWD 92.2
131.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$9,436KWD 2,900
83.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$37.81KWD 11.62
178.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.60
$39.84KWD 12.24
19.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$99.8KWD 30.66
0.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$88.9KWD 27.32
39.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,448
$737KWD 226
125.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$545KWD 167
128.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,583
$1,847KWD 567
60.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,785
$1,320KWD 406
55.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,825
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,889
$1,642KWD 505
171.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ar-rawdah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,421
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
6.53
-42.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ar-rawdah: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $737 in Ar-rawdah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $64.0 in Ar-rawdah. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $189, with Ar-rawdah cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ar-rawdah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Ar-rawdah?
Ar-rawdah wins on cost – living expenses run 72% lower than in Lisbon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ar-rawdah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Ar-rawdah?
You'd need roughly $3,444 in Lisbon and $2,000 in Ar-rawdah 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Ar-rawdah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $737 in Ar-rawdah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Ar-rawdah?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Ar-rawdah?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $1,333 in Ar-rawdah – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lisbon or in Ar-rawdah?
At $1,333 in Ar-rawdah versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rawdah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rawdah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Ar-rawdah?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ar-rawdah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,333 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ar-rawdah hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Ar-rawdah?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ar-rawdah 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ar-rawdah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.