😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $457 in Shubra Al Khaymah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $734 in Shubra Al Khaymah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,011 in Shubra Al Khaymah.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 384% more expensive than Shubra Al Khaymah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Shubra Al Khaymah is 66% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$3.60E£187
341.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$15.79E£819
310.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$4.75E£247
121.26%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$1.45E£75.2
97.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.29E£14.80
672.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.10E£5.12
1400.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$1.20E£62.5
190.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.72E£141
42.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$0.86E£44.83
32.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.59E£30.65
196.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$0.71E£36.75
147.89%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.40E£72.6
130.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$3.44E£179
292.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.20E£218
88.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$8.73E£453
81.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$1.41E£73.4
63.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.54E£28.06
214.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.42E£21.87
378.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$0.36E£18.87
583.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.37E£19.36
397.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$0.40E£20.90
400.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.22E£11.37
777.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.17E£8.57
364.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$1.92E£99.8
244.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$5.71E£297
0.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.28E£66.3
7.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.72E£89.1
72.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.19E£9.98
1147.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.39E£20.12
1000.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.31E£16.15
164.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$0.95E£49.42
1826.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.31E£15.86
564.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.8KE£1.9M
-4.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$30.7KE£1.6M
28.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$11.43E£593
1193.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$5.55E£288
269.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$9.96E£517
297.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$22.49E£1,167
112.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$2.99E£155
207.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$89.3E£4,636
587.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$1,850E£96.0K
767.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$27.95E£1,451
274.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$44.87E£2,329
-6.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$107E£5,570
-12.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$49.87E£2,588
139.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$189E£9,800
762.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$99.0E£5,140
1167.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$310E£16.1K
878.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$175E£9,074
1055.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
$672E£34.9K
1059.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
$382E£19.8K
1018.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Shubra Al Khaymah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
16.67
-77.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Shubra Al Khaymah: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $189 in Shubra Al Khaymah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $16.00 in Shubra Al Khaymah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $120 per month, with Shubra Al Khaymah 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 Shubra Al Khaymah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Shubra Al Khaymah?
Lisbon and Shubra Al Khaymah differ by about 384% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $457 including rent). Shubra Al Khaymah 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 Shubra Al Khaymah?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $686 in Shubra Al Khaymah 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 Shubra Al Khaymah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $189 in Shubra Al Khaymah. 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 124% 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 Shubra Al Khaymah?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $457 in Shubra Al Khaymah – a 384% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $457 in Shubra Al Khaymah versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Shubra Al Khaymah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Shubra Al Khaymah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Shubra Al Khaymah?
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 Shubra Al Khaymah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Shubra Al Khaymah 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 Shubra Al Khaymah?
Expats usually find Shubra Al Khaymah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 384% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.