Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sanad Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sanad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $1,260 in Sanad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,995 in Sanad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,730 in Sanad.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 75% more expensive than Sanad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Sanad is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$6.67 BHD 2.52
138.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$52.7 BHD 19.88
22.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$7.56 BHD 2.85
39.02%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$5.21 BHD 1.97
-44.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.79 BHD 0.30
183.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.39 BHD 0.15
284.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$8.18 BHD 3.08
-57.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$10.59 BHD 3.99
-63.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.21 BHD 0.45
-5.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.35 BHD 0.51
29.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.38 BHD 0.90
-26.05%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$2.47 BHD 0.93
30.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$8.92 BHD 3.36
51.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$7.80 BHD 2.94
1.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$10.23 BHD 3.86
55.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.29 BHD 0.86
0.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.04 BHD 0.77
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.75 BHD 0.66
14.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.17 BHD 0.44
110.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.93 BHD 0.35
97.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.08 BHD 0.41
85.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.45 BHD 0.55
33.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.48 BHD 0.18
64.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$6.73 BHD 2.54
-1.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$18.90 BHD 7.13
-69.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$3.39 BHD 1.28
-59.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$3.20 BHD 1.20
-7.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$4.59 BHD 1.73
-6.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$4.03 BHD 1.52
-79.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$26.54 BHD 10.01
-31.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.57 BHD 0.21
261.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$37.4K BHD 14.1K
-8.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$21.1K BHD 7,951
86.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$122 BHD 46.06
21.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$16.22 BHD 6.12
26.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$38.12 BHD 14.37
3.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$79.7 BHD 30.04
-39.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$10.73 BHD 4.04
-14.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$394 BHD 148
55.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$8,982 BHD 3,386
78.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$46.01 BHD 17.35
127.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$64.0 BHD 24.12
-34.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$81.9 BHD 30.89
14.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$66.6 BHD 25.11
79.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$656 BHD 247
148.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$398 BHD 150
215.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$1,432 BHD 540
111.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$797 BHD 301
153.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sanad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$1,171 BHD 442
36.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
8.56
-55.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sanad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $656 in Sanad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $53.0 in Sanad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $256 per month, with Sanad 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 Sanad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sanad?
Lisbon and Sanad differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $1,260 including rent). Sanad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Sanad?
Lisbon pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Sanad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $656 in Sanad. 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 5% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Sanad?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $1,260 in Sanad – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,260 in Sanad versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanad but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sanad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sanad?
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 Sanad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sanad 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 Sanad?
Expats usually find Sanad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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