🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,333 in Shuwaikh versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Shuwaikh versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Shuwaikh versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Shuwaikh costs roughly 41% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Shuwaikh is 3% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.84KWD 3.94
$17.55€15.12
-26.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6KWD 19.79
$64.5€55.6
0.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.02KWD 2.77
$11.65€10.04
-22.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.30KWD 1.01
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83KWD 1.48
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.30KWD 1.63
$3.26€2.81
62.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71KWD 0.22
$2.49€2.15
-71.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37KWD 0.11
$1.67€1.44
-77.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.47€2.99
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.58€3.08
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60KWD 0.49
$1.18€1.02
35.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48KWD 0.45
$1.95€1.68
-24.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96KWD 0.60
$1.56€1.35
25.64%
Eggs
$2.13KWD 0.65
$4.01€3.46
-46.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42KWD 1.36
$13.27€11.44
-66.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.72KWD 2.06
$8.42€7.26
-20.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.38KWD 3.18
$18.23€15.72
-43.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54KWD 0.78
$2.32€2.00
9.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85KWD 0.57
$1.73€1.49
6.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82KWD 0.56
$1.93€1.67
-5.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56KWD 0.48
$2.64€2.27
-40.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38KWD 0.42
$1.90€1.64
-27.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45KWD 0.44
$2.11€1.82
-31.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.30KWD 0.71
$1.44€1.24
59.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54KWD 0.17
$0.80€0.69
-32.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.29KWD 1.01
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45KWD 0.44
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80KWD 0.86
$7.01€6.04
-60.06%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.92€5.11
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.36€1.18
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15€1.85
-
🚌 Getting Around
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79KWD 0.24
$2.38€2.05
-66.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$46.22€39.85
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.82KWD 1.48
$4.19€3.61
15.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.23KWD 0.99
$1.10€0.95
193.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.94KWD 4.89
$17.26€14.88
-7.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33KWD 0.10
$2.25€1.94
-85.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KKWD 6,558
$34.5K€29.7K
-37.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KKWD 6,211
$41.6K€35.9K
-51.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.5KWD 20.09
$171€147
-61.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.72KWD 6.97
$19.01€16.38
19.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.56KWD 9.37
$34.28€29.55
-10.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.2KWD 30.09
$49.65€42.80
97.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.51€16.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.22KWD 3.44
$10.10€8.71
11.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297KWD 91.1
$699€603
-57.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,312KWD 2,855
$17.8K€15.3K
-47.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.63KWD 11.54
$105€90.2
-64.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.08KWD 12.29
$47.97€41.35
-16.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0KWD 30.04
$102€87.8
-3.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.4KWD 26.80
$128€111
-31.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$724KWD 222
$1,661€1,432
-56.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$587KWD 180
$1,228€1,059
-52.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,813KWD 556
$2,915€2,513
-37.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,345KWD 412
$2,023€1,744
-33.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$8,129€7,007
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,635€3,996
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shuwaikh
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,173KWD 1,279
$1,619€1,396
157.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
3.78
72.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shuwaikh: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $724 in Shuwaikh and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shuwaikh pays 158% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Shuwaikh vs $64.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $187 vs $281, with Shuwaikh cheaper for home cooking.
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
Shuwaikh vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Shuwaikh and in Lisbon?
Shuwaikh and Lisbon differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,333 vs $2,268 including rent). Shuwaikh is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Shuwaikh or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 158% higher in Shuwaikh, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Shuwaikh and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $724 in Shuwaikh versus $1,661 in Lisbon. 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 51% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Shuwaikh or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,333 per month in Shuwaikh versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,333 in Shuwaikh versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shuwaikh but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Shuwaikh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Shuwaikh 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 Shuwaikh or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Shuwaikh 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: Shuwaikh or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Shuwaikh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.