😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $789 in Halabjah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,158 in Halabjah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,527 in Halabjah.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 187% more expensive than Halabjah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Halabjah is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$3.94IQD 5,154
304.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$19.14IQD 25.1K
231.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$7.86IQD 10.3K
32.06%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$1.89IQD 2,469
47.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.39IQD 512
500.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.16IQD 213
881.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$2.67IQD 3,493
28.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$2.81IQD 3,686
39.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.63IQD 821
71.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$0.80IQD 1,052
121.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.59IQD 2,079
7.55%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$1.57IQD 2,054
100.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$4.56IQD 5,967
200.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$1.96IQD 2,564
308.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$9.73IQD 12.7K
59.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$0.75IQD 985
205.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.19IQD 1,558
37.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$0.79IQD 1,029
145.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$0.69IQD 900
263.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$0.69IQD 899
159.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.62IQD 815
224.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.62IQD 817
217.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.65IQD 852
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$2.16IQD 2,825
214.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$13.61IQD 17.8K
-58.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.85IQD 2,417
-24.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$0.91IQD 1,195
231.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.40IQD 518
467.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$31.16IQD 40.8K
45.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$1.57IQD 2,056
173.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.54IQD 2,018
-44.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$2.28IQD 2,979
701.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.57IQD 744
249.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
72.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$9,469IQD 12.4M
317.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$156IQD 203.7K
-6.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$11.38IQD 14.9K
79.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$29.92IQD 39.2K
30.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$36.53IQD 47.8K
34.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$16.50IQD 21.6K
14.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$7.51IQD 9,839
26.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$168IQD 220.0K
261.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$3,549IQD 4.6M
365.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$7.62IQD 9,980
1263.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$30.20IQD 39.6K
39.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$65.6IQD 85.9K
40.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$43.79IQD 57.3K
174.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$245IQD 320.5K
562.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$178IQD 232.7K
613.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$570IQD 746.0K
435.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$349IQD 457.0K
475.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Halabjah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
-
-
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 8, 2026
Last update for Halabjah: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $245 in Halabjah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $19.00 in Halabjah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $149 per month, with Halabjah 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 Halabjah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Halabjah?
Lisbon and Halabjah differ by about 187% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $789 including rent). Halabjah 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 Halabjah?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $1,183 in Halabjah 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 Halabjah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $245 in Halabjah. 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 81% 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 Halabjah – a meal for two runs $19.00 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 $789 in Halabjah versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Halabjah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Halabjah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Halabjah?
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 Halabjah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Halabjah 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 Halabjah?
Expats usually find Halabjah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 187% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.