Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Sanaa versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Sanaa versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Sanaa versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Sanaa costs roughly 59% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sanaa is 33% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.11YER 1,455
$15.91€13.69
-61.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.83YER 5,440
$64.8€55.7
-64.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.15YER 2,418
$10.51€9.04
-3.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81YER 432
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80YER 430
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.72YER 888
$2.87€2.47
29.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14YER 273
$2.24€1.93
-49.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46YER 110
$1.50€1.29
-69.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.49€3.00
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.88€3.34
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91YER 455
$1.14€0.98
67.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20YER 287
$1.75€1.51
-31.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.47YER 589
$1.76€1.51
40.34%
Eggs
$4.03YER 959
$3.22€2.77
25.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86YER 2,350
$13.49€11.61
-26.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.82YER 1,625
$7.91€6.81
-13.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.15YER 4,563
$15.87€13.65
20.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.92YER 933
$2.31€1.99
69.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44YER 344
$1.70€1.46
-15.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41YER 574
$2.01€1.73
19.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64YER 391
$2.46€2.12
-33.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70YER 405
$1.84€1.59
-7.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57YER 374
$2.00€1.72
-21.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64YER 151
$1.93€1.66
-66.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74YER 176
$0.79€0.68
-6.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.28YER 782
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65YER 394
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24YER 772
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91YER 932
$6.61€5.68
-40.85%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.72€4.92
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.37€1.17
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.97€2.56
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42YER 101
$2.37€2.04
-82.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$82.1YER 19.6K
$45.56€39.19
80.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.21YER 1,004
$4.29€3.69
-1.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.99YER 952
$0.82€0.70
386.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.32YER 1,745
$18.30€15.74
-60.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.68YER 640
$2.06€1.78
30.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4KYER 3.9M
$34.3K€29.5K
-52.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KYER 8.0M
$39.3K€33.8K
-14.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.3YER 17.2K
$148€127
-51.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.70YER 3,266
$20.52€17.65
-33.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.45YER 9,163
$39.61€34.08
-2.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.6YER 15.9K
$47.85€41.16
39.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.68YER 3,975
$18.92€16.28
-11.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90YER 1,405
$9.18€7.90
-35.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116YER 27.5K
$614€528
-81.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,808YER 430.7K
$16.0K€13.8K
-88.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.29YER 9,363
$105€90.0
-62.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$148YER 35.2K
$42.06€36.18
251.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.65YER 9,924
$94.0€80.8
-55.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.36YER 10.1K
$120€103
-64.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167YER 39.8K
$1,628€1,400
-89.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.3YER 22.7K
$1,255€1,080
-92.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$410YER 97.8K
$3,030€2,607
-86.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265YER 63.2K
$2,020€1,738
-86.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123YER 982.5K
$7,800€6,709
-47.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$819YER 195.1K
$4,273€3,675
-80.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$191YER 45.5K
$1,603€1,379
-88.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.25
3.81
195.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sanaa: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Sanaa and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 739% 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: $23.00 in Sanaa vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $269 per month, with Sanaa 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
Sanaa vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sanaa and Lisbon?
Sanaa and Lisbon differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($900 vs $2,210 including rent). Sanaa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 739% 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 Sanaa and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $167 in Sanaa versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sanaa and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $116 in Sanaa versus $614 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $900 in Sanaa versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanaa but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sanaa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sanaa 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 Sanaa or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sanaa 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: Sanaa or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sanaa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.