😐A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $950 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $1,323 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $1,696 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 134% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Lisbon sits 66% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$5.05OMR 1.94
220.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$25.79OMR 9.91
150.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$7.58OMR 2.91
36.94%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$4.85OMR 1.86
-42.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.51OMR 0.19
341.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.25OMR 0.10
528.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$12.39OMR 4.76
-71.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$11.75OMR 4.51
-65.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.93OMR 0.74
-44.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.18OMR 0.45
47.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.68OMR 0.64
3.57%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.85OMR 0.71
71.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$3.87OMR 1.48
247.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.11OMR 1.58
94.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$8.03OMR 3.08
100.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.29OMR 0.88
-0.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.74OMR 0.67
-1.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.78OMR 0.68
8.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.16OMR 0.45
118.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.03OMR 0.39
77.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.98OMR 0.37
108.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.09OMR 0.42
81.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.55OMR 0.21
54.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$6.19OMR 2.38
10.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$15.45OMR 5.93
-62.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$4.18OMR 1.61
-67.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$7.72OMR 2.97
-62.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.27OMR 0.49
79.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.58OMR 0.61
158.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.75OMR 0.29
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$10.51OMR 4.03
73.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.64OMR 0.24
214.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$22.8KOMR 8,737
55.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$21.7KOMR 8,331
77.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$105OMR 40.44
38.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$41.62OMR 15.98
-49.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$68.8OMR 26.41
-41.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$2.66OMR 1.02
602.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$10.51OMR 4.04
-13.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$128OMR 49.23
373.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$3,695OMR 1,419
342.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$20.95OMR 8.05
399.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$26.33OMR 10.11
55.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$39.52OMR 15.18
136.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$52.5OMR 20.17
125.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$158OMR 60.7
915.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$207OMR 79.5
497.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$386OMR 148
689.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$206OMR 79.1
898.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$4,502OMR 1,729
-64.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
5.15
-26.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ar-rustaq: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $158 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 184% higher in Ar-rustaq, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $26.00 in Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $219 – making Ar-rustaq the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ar-rustaq cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 134%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $1,426 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Ar-rustaq?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,227 in Lisbon and $950 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $607 per month in Lisbon and $128 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Ar-rustaq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Ar-rustaq more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Ar-rustaq?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ar-rustaq. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.