Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Sohar and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,441 in Sohar versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,151 in Sohar versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,862 in Sohar versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Sohar costs roughly 35% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sohar 8% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.53 OMR 2.51
$15.91 €13.70
-58.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.05 OMR 8.10
$64.8 €55.8
-67.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.87 OMR 3.41
$10.51 €9.05
-15.60%
Cappuccino
$6.62 OMR 2.55
$2.87 €2.47
130.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 OMR 0.25
$2.24 €1.93
-70.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$1.50 €1.30
-82.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.74 OMR 4.91
$3.49 €3.01
265.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$14.10 OMR 5.43
$3.88 €3.34
263.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.24 OMR 0.86
$1.14 €0.98
96.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 OMR 0.43
$1.75 €1.51
-36.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 OMR 1.24
$1.76 €1.51
82.95%
Eggs
$2.82 OMR 1.09
$3.22 €2.77
-12.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.59 OMR 5.23
$13.49 €11.62
0.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.31 OMR 3.58
$7.91 €6.81
17.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.40 OMR 5.54
$15.87 €13.67
-9.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 OMR 1.24
$2.31 €1.99
38.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 OMR 0.81
$1.70 €1.46
24.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 OMR 0.98
$2.01 €1.73
26.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 OMR 0.46
$2.46 €2.12
-52.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.74 OMR 0.67
$1.84 €1.59
-5.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 OMR 0.72
$2.00 €1.72
-7.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 OMR 0.66
$1.93 €1.66
-10.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 OMR 0.38
$0.79 €0.68
25.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 OMR 2.36
$6.61 €5.69
-7.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$26.43 OMR 10.18
$5.72 €4.93
362.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.00 OMR 1.54
$1.37 €1.18
191.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.47 OMR 3.26
$2.97 €2.56
185.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.66 OMR 1.02
$2.37 €2.04
12.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$51.9 OMR 20.00
$45.56 €39.23
14.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 OMR 1.21
$4.29 €3.69
-26.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 OMR 0.59
$0.82 €0.70
86.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.51 OMR 4.05
$18.30 €15.76
-42.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 OMR 0.23
$2.06 €1.78
-70.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K OMR 6,963
$34.3K €29.5K
-47.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K OMR 8,000
$39.3K €33.8K
-47.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 OMR 38.93
$148 €127
-31.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.04 OMR 11.18
$20.52 €17.67
41.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.4 OMR 33.63
$39.61 €34.11
120.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 OMR 19.86
$47.85 €41.20
7.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 €16.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.78 OMR 4.54
$9.18 €7.91
28.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 OMR 104
$614 €529
-56.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,119 OMR 2,741
$16.0K €13.8K
-55.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 OMR 19.88
$105 €90.1
-50.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.42 OMR 16.72
$42.06 €36.22
3.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 OMR 30.14
$94.0 €80.9
-16.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.95 OMR 18.08
$120 €103
-60.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$485 OMR 187
$1,628 €1,402
-70.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$388 OMR 149
$1,255 €1,081
-69.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$753 OMR 290
$3,030 €2,609
-75.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$669 OMR 257
$2,020 €1,740
-66.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,154 OMR 444
$7,800 €6,716
-85.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$774 OMR 298
$4,273 €3,679
-81.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sohar
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,455 OMR 945
$1,603 €1,381
53.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.62
3.81
47.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sohar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Sohar and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sohar pays 53% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $351 vs $269, 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 Lisbon?
Sohar and Lisbon differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($1,441 vs $2,210 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?
Sohar pays 53% more on average, 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Sohar 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 Sohar and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $269 in Sohar 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?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 30% 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 $1,441 in Sohar versus $2,210 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 53% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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