Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Seef Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Seef

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,683 in Seef.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,629 in Seef.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $3,575 in Seef.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 36% more expensive than in Seef, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Seef 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$8.15 BHD 3.07
115.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$52.6 BHD 19.83
19.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$8.27 BHD 3.12
40.02%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$5.23 BHD 1.97
-40.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$1.49 BHD 0.56
67.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$0.83 BHD 0.31
109.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$10.59 BHD 3.99
-67.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$18.80 BHD 7.09
-81.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$2.31 BHD 0.87
-50.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$1.31 BHD 0.49
45.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$3.10 BHD 1.17
-51.61%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$1.54 BHD 0.58
158.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$10.59 BHD 3.99
25.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$6.01 BHD 2.27
33.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$15.79 BHD 5.95
14.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$3.15 BHD 1.19
-25.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.08 BHD 0.79
-15.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$2.57 BHD 0.97
-28.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$1.88 BHD 0.71
35.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$1.07 BHD 0.40
96.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$1.81 BHD 0.68
-17.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$0.38 BHD 0.14
115.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$3.75 BHD 1.41
89.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$3.82 BHD 1.44
-65.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.60 BHD 0.98
-18.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$0.63 BHD 0.24
274.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$65.4 BHD 24.64
-28.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$3.48 BHD 1.31
17.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$3.30 BHD 1.24
-65.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$6.54 BHD 2.46
161.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$0.60 BHD 0.23
285.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$98.1 BHD 36.96
71.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$26.44 BHD 9.97
-26.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$46.30 BHD 17.45
-27.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$72.2 BHD 27.21
-32.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$10.65 BHD 4.02
-10.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$8,018 BHD 3,022
116.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$68.9 BHD 25.95
52.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$53.3 BHD 20.08
-10.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$92.7 BHD 34.92
8.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$79.1 BHD 29.80
57.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$936 BHD 353
77.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$676 BHD 255
84.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$2,136 BHD 805
38.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$1,402 BHD 528
46.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Seef
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$3,376 BHD 1,272
-51.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
0
-

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Seef: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $936 in Seef. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seef pays 107% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $53.0 in Seef for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $250 per month, with Seef 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 Seef: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Seef?
Lisbon and Seef differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,683 including rent). Seef is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 107% lower in Seef. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Seef?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $936 in Seef. 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 11% 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 Seef?
All in, you'll spend $2,296 per month in Lisbon versus $1,683 in Seef – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,683 in Seef versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Seef but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Seef the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Seef?
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 Seef safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Seef 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 Seef?
Expats usually find Seef gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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