Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Shibin Al Kawm Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Shibin Al Kawm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $476 in Shibin Al Kawm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $755 in Shibin Al Kawm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,033 in Shibin Al Kawm.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 364% more expensive than Shibin Al Kawm, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Shibin Al Kawm is 64% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$3.50 E£182
354.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$16.08 E£835
302.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$4.77 E£248
120.34%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$1.45 E£75.1
97.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.31 E£16.28
622.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.11 E£5.95
1263.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$1.22 E£63.3
186.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$2.92 E£152
32.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$0.80 E£41.42
42.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$0.74 E£38.57
136.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.65 E£33.79
170.77%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$1.38 E£71.6
133.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.62
$3.83 E£199
252.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.41 E£229
79.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$9.39 E£487
69.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$1.49 E£77.1
55.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$0.59 E£30.38
188.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$0.40 E£20.51
402.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$0.39 E£20.40
530.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.41 E£21.22
348.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.44 E£22.60
354.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.22 E£11.37
777.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.20 E£10.19
295.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$1.93 E£100
242.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$5.71 E£296
0.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.36 E£70.8
0.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.59 E£135
14.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$0.17 E£8.78
1294.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.23
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$0.52 E£27.07
725.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.42 E£22.03
95.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$2.01 E£105
810.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.31 E£15.93
564.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$35.4K E£1.8M
-3.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$33.5K E£1.7M
17.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$11.49 E£596
1186.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$5.60 E£291
266.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.11
$10.19 E£529
288.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.20
$22.57 E£1,172
112.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$3.02 E£157
203.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$90.0 E£4,673
581.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$1,855 E£96.3K
764.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$27.26 E£1,415
283.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.22
$49.49 E£2,568
-15.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$108 E£5,619
-13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$49.82 E£2,586
140.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,402
$191 E£9,912
752.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$101 E£5,216
1148.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$303 E£15.7K
898.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,740
$175 E£9,074
1055.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,716
$674 E£35.0K
1057.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,679
$410 E£21.3K
942.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Shibin Al Kawm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,381
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
17
-77.59%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Shibin Al Kawm: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $191 in Shibin Al Kawm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $16.00 in Shibin Al Kawm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $128 per month, with Shibin Al Kawm 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 Shibin Al Kawm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Shibin Al Kawm?
Lisbon and Shibin Al Kawm differ by about 364% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $476 including rent). Shibin Al Kawm 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 Shibin Al Kawm?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $714 in Shibin Al Kawm 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 Shibin Al Kawm?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $191 in Shibin Al Kawm. 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 110% 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 Shibin Al Kawm?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $476 in Shibin Al Kawm – a 364% 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 $476 in Shibin Al Kawm versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Shibin Al Kawm but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Shibin Al Kawm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Shibin Al Kawm?
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 Shibin Al Kawm safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Shibin Al Kawm 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 Shibin Al Kawm?
Expats usually find Shibin Al Kawm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 364% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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