Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,103 in Sur versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Sur versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,050 in Sur versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Sur costs roughly 52% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sur is 17% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.95 OMR 1.52
$16.19 €14.20
-75.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.63 OMR 9.87
$63.3 €55.5
-59.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 OMR 2.99
$10.32 €9.05
-24.81%
Cappuccino
$4.82 OMR 1.85
$2.83 €2.48
70.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 OMR 0.28
$2.29 €2.01
-68.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$1.58 €1.38
-82.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.51 OMR 4.82
$3.40 €2.98
267.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 OMR 4.56
$4.03 €3.53
194.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 OMR 0.61
$1.09 €0.96
45.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 OMR 0.47
$1.75 €1.53
-29.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 OMR 0.64
$1.76 €1.54
-5.11%
Eggs
$2.00 OMR 0.77
$3.17 €2.78
-36.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.84 OMR 1.48
$13.19 €11.57
-70.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.91 OMR 1.89
$7.97 €6.99
-38.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.60 OMR 3.31
$15.53 €13.62
-44.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 OMR 0.91
$2.37 €2.08
-0.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 OMR 0.49
$1.71 €1.50
-25.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 OMR 0.41
$2.01 €1.76
-47.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 OMR 0.31
$2.43 €2.13
-66.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.82 OMR 0.31
$1.76 €1.54
-53.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 OMR 0.19
$2.03 €1.78
-75.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 OMR 0.42
$1.92 €1.68
-43.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 OMR 0.19
$0.85 €0.74
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23 OMR 2.40
$6.58 €5.77
-5.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.90 OMR 6.12
$5.58 €4.89
184.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.36 OMR 1.68
$1.33 €1.17
227.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.01 OMR 3.08
$2.97 €2.61
169.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.28 €2.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.79 €40.15
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.16 OMR 1.21
$4.23 €3.71
-25.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 OMR 0.29
$0.81 €0.71
-6.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.25 OMR 3.95
$18.44 €16.17
-44.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.53 OMR 0.20
$2.08 €1.82
-74.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K OMR 8,655
$34.7K €30.4K
-35.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K OMR 8,409
$39.2K €34.3K
-44.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 OMR 30.40
$148 €130
-46.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.13 OMR 8.90
$20.46 €17.94
13.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.0 OMR 26.95
$39.56 €34.68
76.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.9 OMR 33.07
$47.99 €42.08
79.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.60 €16.31
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.25 OMR 3.95
$9.22 €8.09
11.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$192 OMR 73.8
$616 €540
-68.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,388 OMR 2,459
$16.4K €14.4K
-61.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 OMR 19.71
$103 €90.1
-50.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.04 OMR 15.03
$41.74 €36.60
-6.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.4 OMR 30.18
$94.8 €83.1
-17.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7 OMR 33.74
$122 €107
-28.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$258 OMR 99.5
$1,633 €1,431
-84.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 OMR 102
$1,232 €1,081
-78.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 OMR 181
$3,098 €2,717
-84.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 OMR 148
$2,031 €1,781
-81.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$565 OMR 218
$7,831 €6,866
-92.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$525 OMR 202
$4,389 €3,849
-88.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,657 OMR 1,023
$1,607 €1,409
65.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
3.81
35.17%

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

Last update for Sur: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Sur and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sur pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Sur vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $267 per month, with Sur 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
Sur vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sur and in Lisbon?
Sur and Lisbon differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($1,103 vs $2,291 including rent). Sur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sur or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 65% higher in Sur, 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 Sur and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $258 in Sur versus $1,633 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 24% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sur or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,103 per month in Sur versus $2,291 in Lisbon – a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,103 in Sur versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sur but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sur 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 Sur or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sur 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: Sur or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Sur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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