Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,437 in Sohar versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,112 in Sohar versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,788 in Sohar versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Sohar costs roughly 37% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sohar4% above, Lisbon64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.31OMR 2.43
$17.55€15.12
-64.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.77OMR 8.00
$64.5€55.6
-67.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.98OMR 3.45
$11.65€10.04
-22.92%
Cappuccino
$4.98OMR 1.92
$3.26€2.81
52.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65OMR 0.25
$2.49€2.15
-73.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30OMR 0.12
$1.67€1.44
-82.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.23OMR 5.09
$3.47€2.99
281.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$14.05OMR 5.41
$3.58€3.08
292.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19OMR 0.84
$1.18€1.02
85.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10OMR 0.42
$1.95€1.68
-43.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.31OMR 1.27
$1.56€1.35
112.18%
Eggs
$2.74OMR 1.06
$4.01€3.46
-31.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.58OMR 5.23
$13.27€11.44
2.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.30OMR 3.58
$8.42€7.26
10.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.17OMR 5.45
$18.23€15.72
-22.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32OMR 1.28
$2.32€2.00
43.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12OMR 0.82
$1.73€1.49
22.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53OMR 0.97
$1.93€1.67
31.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17OMR 0.45
$2.64€2.27
-55.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74OMR 0.67
$1.90€1.64
-8.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83OMR 0.71
$2.11€1.82
-13.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71OMR 0.66
$1.44€1.24
18.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91OMR 0.35
$0.80€0.69
13.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83OMR 2.24
$7.01€6.04
-16.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.03OMR 10.02
$5.92€5.11
339.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.92OMR 1.51
$1.36€1.18
188.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.36OMR 3.22
$2.15€1.85
288.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.67OMR 1.03
$2.38€2.05
12.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.6OMR 20.25
$46.22€39.85
13.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19OMR 1.23
$4.19€3.61
-23.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54OMR 0.59
$1.10€0.95
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.34OMR 3.98
$17.26€14.88
-40.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65OMR 0.25
$2.25€1.94
-71.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KOMR 7,023
$34.5K€29.7K
-47.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KOMR 7,853
$41.6K€35.9K
-50.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102OMR 39.31
$171€147
-40.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.74OMR 11.06
$19.01€16.38
51.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.8OMR 33.78
$34.28€29.55
156.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.22OMR 18.94
$49.65€42.80
-0.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.51€16.81
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.67OMR 4.49
$10.10€8.71
15.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303OMR 117
$699€603
-56.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,016OMR 2,700
$17.8K€15.3K
-60.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7OMR 19.90
$105€90.2
-50.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.92OMR 16.90
$47.97€41.35
-8.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.8OMR 30.71
$102€87.8
-21.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.18OMR 18.16
$128€111
-63.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491OMR 189
$1,661€1,432
-70.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383OMR 147
$1,228€1,059
-68.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$824OMR 317
$2,915€2,513
-71.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$684OMR 263
$2,023€1,744
-66.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,164OMR 448
$8,129€7,007
-85.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$765OMR 294
$4,635€3,996
-83.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,513OMR 967
$1,619€1,396
55.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.33
3.78
67.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sohar: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Sohar and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sohar pays 55% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Sohar vs $64.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $347 vs $281, with Lisbon 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
Sohar vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sohar and in Lisbon?
Sohar and Lisbon differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,437 vs $2,268 including rent). Sohar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sohar or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 55% higher in Sohar, 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 Sohar and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $491 in Sohar versus $1,661 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 Sohar and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $303 in Sohar versus $699 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,437 in Sohar versus $2,268 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sohar but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sohar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sohar 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 Sohar or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sohar 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: Sohar or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sohar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.