😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $746 in Az Zubayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,165 in Az Zubayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,584 in Az Zubayr.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 207% more expensive than in Az Zubayr, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Az Zubayr is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$4.00IQD 5,233
304.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$25.20IQD 33.0K
151.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$6.87IQD 9,002
50.22%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$2.66IQD 3,484
6.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.36IQD 476
536.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.21IQD 279
652.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$2.89IQD 3,782
17.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.90IQD 3,798
38.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$1.37IQD 1,798
-20.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.85IQD 1,109
105.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.66IQD 2,169
6.02%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$1.72IQD 2,257
84.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$4.63IQD 6,064
184.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$4.78IQD 6,266
66.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$13.39IQD 17.5K
15.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.19IQD 1,561
99.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.15IQD 1,505
48.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.00IQD 1,315
101.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.75IQD 976
224.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.68IQD 897
158.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.64IQD 832
217.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.63IQD 827
204.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.56IQD 735
51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$1.85IQD 2,429
255.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.85IQD 2,423
-28.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.09IQD 2,734
42.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.39IQD 515
484.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$31.63IQD 41.4K
44.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$2.32IQD 3,036
82.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.53IQD 2,009
-47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$6.17IQD 8,076
198.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.57IQD 748
264.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$19.2KIQD 25.2M
80.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$19.7KIQD 25.8M
98.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$78.4IQD 102.6K
88.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$17.77IQD 23.3K
15.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$34.27IQD 44.9K
15.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$37.29IQD 48.8K
28.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$16.76IQD 21.9K
10.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$7.87IQD 10.3K
17.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$152IQD 198.5K
306.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$3,290IQD 4.3M
399.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$27.00IQD 35.4K
280.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$25.31IQD 33.1K
64.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$61.1IQD 80.0K
55.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$40.71IQD 53.3K
199.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$242IQD 317.0K
574.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$175IQD 229.6K
602.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$585IQD 766.2K
429.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$346IQD 453.0K
487.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Az Zubayr
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 Az Zubayr: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $242 in Az Zubayr. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Az Zubayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $160 per month, with Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Az Zubayr?
Lisbon and Az Zubayr differ by about 207% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $746 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Az Zubayr?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,119 in Az Zubayr 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 do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Az Zubayr?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $242 in Az Zubayr. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $63.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $746 in Az Zubayr versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Az Zubayr but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Az Zubayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Az Zubayr?
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 Az Zubayr safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Az Zubayr 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 Az Zubayr?
Expats usually find Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.