🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $3,059 in The Pearl-Qatar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $4,353 in The Pearl-Qatar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $5,647 in The Pearl-Qatar.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 27% less than in The Pearl-Qatar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, The Pearl-Qatar128% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$6.67QAR 24.28
142.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$47.63QAR 173
35.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$6.89QAR 25.08
50.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$11.71QAR 42.64
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$11.01QAR 40.08
-
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$5.12QAR 18.62
-45.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.83QAR 3.04
171.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.33QAR 1.20
375.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.73QAR 6.29
-37.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.62QAR 5.89
7.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$2.23QAR 8.12
-21.97%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$2.68QAR 9.74
18.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$7.65QAR 27.84
75.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$7.95QAR 28.92
0.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$10.36QAR 37.72
55.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.97QAR 7.16
15.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.63QAR 5.92
5.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.51QAR 5.50
28.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.43QAR 5.22
77.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.97QAR 3.54
88.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.94QAR 3.41
117.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.39QAR 5.05
42.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.48QAR 1.75
77.08%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$9.66QAR 35.15
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83QAR 6.67
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.90QAR 10.57
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$6.14QAR 22.36
11.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.53QAR 1.94
330.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$31.67QAR 115
47.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$2.24QAR 8.17
82.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.53QAR 1.93
54.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$9.35QAR 34.02
95.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.55QAR 2.02
265.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$16.0KQAR 58.1K
120.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$14.7KQAR 53.4K
162.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$92.4QAR 336
57.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$22.33QAR 81.3
-6.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$73.8QAR 269
-45.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$250QAR 909
-80.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$36.42QAR 133
-48.68%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$12.20QAR 44.42
-25.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$788QAR 2,869
-23.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$10.4KQAR 38.0K
56.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$61.3QAR 223
70.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$53.9QAR 196
-23.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$90.2QAR 328
3.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$91.8QAR 334
29.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$2,219QAR 8,077
-27.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$2,032QAR 7,395
-39.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$4,862QAR 17.7K
-37.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$3,451QAR 12.6K
-40.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$6,272QAR 22.8K
22.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$4,481QAR 16.3K
-4.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
The Pearl-Qatar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$7,383QAR 26.9K
-78.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.94
-3.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for The Pearl-Qatar: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $2,219 in The Pearl-Qatar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰The Pearl-Qatar pays 366% 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 $48.00 in The Pearl-Qatar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $196 per month, with The Pearl-Qatar 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 The Pearl-Qatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and The Pearl-Qatar?
Lisbon and The Pearl-Qatar differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $3,059 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, The Pearl-Qatar earns 366% less. 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 The Pearl-Qatar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $2,219 in The Pearl-Qatar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and The Pearl-Qatar?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $788 in The Pearl-Qatar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in The Pearl-Qatar pay roughly 38% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,227 in Lisbon versus $3,059 in The Pearl-Qatar, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in The Pearl-Qatar. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and The Pearl-Qatar?
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 The Pearl-Qatar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and The Pearl-Qatar 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 The Pearl-Qatar?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in The Pearl-Qatar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.