šA single person spends $1,485 per month in Portimao vs $1,437 in As-salimiyah, rent included.
šA couple spends around $2,204 per month in Portimao vs $2,311 in As-salimiyah, rent included.
šA family of three spends $2,924 per month in Portimao vs $3,186 in As-salimiyah, rent included.
šPortimao costs about 3% more than As-salimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
šBoth Portimao and As-salimiyah sit above the global median ā Portimao by 11%, As-salimiyah by 7%.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72ā¬9.99
$10.01KWDĀ 3.08
17.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6ā¬43.98
$44.09KWDĀ 13.58
16.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.56ā¬9.01
$7.99KWDĀ 2.46
32.17%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.41KWDĀ 0.74
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63KWDĀ 1.12
-
Cappuccino
$2.36ā¬2.01
$5.78KWDĀ 1.78
-59.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81ā¬1.54
$0.67KWDĀ 0.21
170.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66ā¬1.41
$0.35KWDĀ 0.11
374.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44ā¬2.08
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12ā¬2.66
-
-
š Groceries & Markets
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13ā¬0.96
$1.51KWDĀ 0.46
-25.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59ā¬1.36
$0.88KWDĀ 0.27
80.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72ā¬1.47
$1.65KWDĀ 0.51
4.24%
Eggs
$3.10ā¬2.65
$2.01KWDĀ 0.62
54.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.94ā¬10.18
$5.02KWDĀ 1.55
137.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15ā¬6.10
$6.36KWDĀ 1.96
12.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.36ā¬9.69
$10.53KWDĀ 3.24
7.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31ā¬1.97
$1.98KWDĀ 0.61
16.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28ā¬1.09
$1.61KWDĀ 0.50
-20.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40ā¬1.19
$1.60KWDĀ 0.49
-12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.31ā¬1.97
$1.38KWDĀ 0.42
67.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.20ā¬1.87
$1.24KWDĀ 0.38
77.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32ā¬1.98
$0.87KWDĀ 0.27
166.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60ā¬1.37
$1.56KWDĀ 0.48
2.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76ā¬0.65
$0.49KWDĀ 0.15
55.10%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.27KWDĀ 1.01
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.01KWDĀ 0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.32KWDĀ 0.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.15ā¬5.24
$3.01KWDĀ 0.93
104.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.80ā¬4.95
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08ā¬0.92
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56ā¬2.18
-
-
š Getting Around
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77ā¬1.51
$1.11KWDĀ 0.34
59.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.64ā¬11.64
$48.42KWDĀ 14.91
-71.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.38ā¬2.89
$3.18KWDĀ 0.98
6.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86ā¬0.74
$3.18KWDĀ 0.98
-72.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.33ā¬14.78
$16.21KWDĀ 4.99
6.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98ā¬1.69
$0.32KWDĀ 0.10
518.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4Kā¬29.3K
$21.2KKWDĀ 6,520
62.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8Kā¬34.0K
$19.6KKWDĀ 6,042
103.00%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114ā¬97.2
$38.70KWDĀ 11.92
194.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.25ā¬22.39
$18.40KWDĀ 5.67
42.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.07ā¬41.00
$25.31KWDĀ 7.80
89.92%
š Sport & Entertainment
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.93ā¬41.74
$92.4KWDĀ 28.46
-47.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10ā¬16.29
$65.3KWDĀ 20.11
-70.74%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02ā¬6.84
$8.43KWDĀ 2.60
-4.86%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$633ā¬540
$277KWDĀ 85.4
128.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,537ā¬3,870
$6,540KWDĀ 2,014
-30.62%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0ā¬45.24
$41.35KWDĀ 12.74
28.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.43ā¬19.98
$43.12KWDĀ 13.28
-45.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.08ā¬41.01
$86.9KWDĀ 26.78
-44.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9ā¬59.6
$68.2KWDĀ 21.01
2.43%
š Accommodation & Living
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$931ā¬794
$953KWDĀ 293
-2.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693ā¬591
$724KWDĀ 223
-4.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,436ā¬1,225
$1,875KWDĀ 578
-23.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,160ā¬989
$1,372KWDĀ 422
-15.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,441ā¬3,788
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,447ā¬2,941
-
-
šµ Salaries & Financials
Portimao
As-salimiyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,024ā¬874
$2,846KWDĀ 876
-64.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.86
7.14
-31.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Portimao: April 22, 2026
Last update for As-salimiyah: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A central one-bedroom costs $931 in Portimao versus $953 in As-salimiyah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
š°Salaries run about 178% higher in As-salimiyah, which reinforces the cost advantage ā you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
šA mid-range dinner for two costs $52 in Portimao versus $44 in As-salimiyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $167 ā making As-salimiyah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Portimao vs As-salimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is As-salimiyah cheaper than Portimao?
Yes ā Portimao is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,227 per month in Portimao and $2,155 in As-salimiyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled ā not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in As-salimiyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Portimao vs As-salimiyah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,485 in Portimao and $1,437 in As-salimiyah. The difference isn't just one category ā it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 255% less in As-salimiyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Portimao or As-salimiyah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in As-salimiyah, where all-in costs run around $1,437, than in Portimao at $1,485. In As-salimiyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portimao it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Portimao or As-salimiyah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward As-salimiyah ā lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Portimao or As-salimiyah?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison ā central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with As-salimiyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portimao makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.