🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $816 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,207 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,597 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos costs roughly 64% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Madinat As Sultan Qaboos is 39% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.07OMR 1.95
$16.19€14.18
-68.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.53OMR 10.21
$63.3€55.5
-58.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.83OMR 3.01
$10.32€9.04
-24.13%
Cappuccino
$5.02OMR 1.93
$2.83€2.48
77.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06OMR 0.41
$2.29€2.01
-53.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32OMR 0.12
$1.58€1.38
-79.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.50OMR 4.81
$3.40€2.98
267.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.84OMR 4.56
$4.03€3.53
193.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98OMR 0.76
$1.09€0.96
81.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22OMR 0.47
$1.75€1.53
-30.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73OMR 0.67
$1.76€1.54
-1.70%
Eggs
$2.35OMR 0.91
$3.17€2.77
-25.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.69OMR 1.42
$13.19€11.56
-72.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.91OMR 1.89
$7.97€6.98
-38.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.28OMR 3.19
$15.53€13.60
-46.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.52OMR 0.97
$2.37€2.07
6.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68OMR 0.65
$1.71€1.49
-1.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85OMR 0.71
$2.01€1.76
-7.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17OMR 0.45
$2.43€2.13
-51.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95OMR 0.36
$1.76€1.54
-46.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97OMR 0.37
$2.03€1.78
-52.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07OMR 0.41
$1.92€1.68
-44.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53OMR 0.20
$0.85€0.74
-37.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.25OMR 2.41
$6.58€5.76
-5.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.81OMR 6.09
$5.58€4.89
183.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.39OMR 1.69
$1.33€1.17
230.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.68OMR 2.96
$2.97€2.60
158.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.28€1.99
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.79€40.10
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03OMR 1.16
$4.23€3.70
-28.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75OMR 0.29
$0.81€0.71
-7.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.57OMR 4.07
$18.44€16.15
-42.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65OMR 0.25
$2.08€1.82
-68.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KOMR 8,893
$34.7K€30.4K
-33.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KOMR 8,226
$39.2K€34.3K
-45.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107OMR 41.12
$148€130
-27.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.73OMR 15.67
$20.46€17.92
99.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.9OMR 27.27
$39.56€34.64
79.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$47.99€42.03
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60€16.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.28OMR 3.95
$9.22€8.08
11.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189OMR 72.9
$616€540
-69.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KOMR 3,867
$16.4K€14.4K
-38.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.39OMR 19.01
$103€90.0
-51.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.11OMR 15.05
$41.74€36.55
-6.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7OMR 30.30
$94.8€83.0
-16.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3OMR 33.59
$122€107
-28.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,633€1,430
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,232€1,079
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,098€2,713
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,031€1,779
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,831€6,858
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,389€3,844
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,607€1,408
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
3.81
35.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madinat As Sultan Qaboos: July 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $267 per month, with Madinat As Sultan Qaboos 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
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and in Lisbon?
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and Lisbon differ by about 181% in total monthly costs ($816 vs $2,291 including rent). Madinat As Sultan Qaboos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,225 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and $3,437 in Lisbon 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Madinat As Sultan Qaboos or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $816 per month in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 181% 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 $816 in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Madinat As Sultan Qaboos but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Madinat As Sultan Qaboos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and Lisbon?
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 Madinat As Sultan Qaboos or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Madinat As Sultan Qaboos and Lisbon 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: Madinat As Sultan Qaboos or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Madinat As Sultan Qaboos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 181% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Madinat As Sultan Qaboos vs other spots: cost of living compared