Cost of Living Comparison Between Sur and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Sur and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,105 in Sur versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Sur versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,056 in Sur versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
πLiving in Sur costs roughly 50% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Sur is 18% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86OMRΒ 1.49
$15.91β¬13.70
-75.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.74OMRΒ 9.91
$64.8β¬55.8
-60.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.74OMRΒ 2.98
$10.51β¬9.05
-26.36%
Cappuccino
$4.85OMRΒ 1.87
$2.87β¬2.47
68.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72OMRΒ 0.28
$2.24β¬1.93
-67.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMRΒ 0.10
$1.50β¬1.29
-82.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.16OMRΒ 4.68
$3.49β¬3.01
248.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.80OMRΒ 4.54
$3.88β¬3.34
204.12%
π Groceries & Markets
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58OMRΒ 0.61
$1.14β¬0.98
38.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22OMRΒ 0.47
$1.75β¬1.51
-30.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74OMRΒ 0.67
$1.76β¬1.51
-1.14%
Eggs
$2.03OMRΒ 0.78
$3.22β¬2.77
-36.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.82OMRΒ 1.47
$13.49β¬11.61
-71.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.04OMRΒ 1.94
$7.91β¬6.81
-36.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.29OMRΒ 3.19
$15.87β¬13.67
-47.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37OMRΒ 0.91
$2.31β¬1.99
2.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32OMRΒ 0.51
$1.70β¬1.46
-22.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06OMRΒ 0.41
$2.01β¬1.73
-47.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75OMRΒ 0.29
$2.46β¬2.12
-69.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77OMRΒ 0.29
$1.84β¬1.59
-58.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54OMRΒ 0.21
$2.00β¬1.72
-73.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03OMRΒ 0.40
$1.93β¬1.66
-46.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54OMRΒ 0.21
$0.79β¬0.68
-31.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36OMRΒ 2.45
$6.61β¬5.69
-3.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.81OMRΒ 6.09
$5.72β¬4.93
176.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.32OMRΒ 1.66
$1.37β¬1.18
215.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90OMRΒ 3.04
$2.97β¬2.56
165.99%
π Getting Around
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.37β¬2.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.56β¬39.22
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16OMRΒ 1.22
$4.29β¬3.69
-26.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80OMRΒ 0.31
$0.82β¬0.70
-2.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.55OMRΒ 4.06
$18.30β¬15.76
-42.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.58OMRΒ 0.22
$2.06β¬1.78
-71.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KOMRΒ 8,953
$34.3Kβ¬29.5K
-32.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KOMRΒ 8,231
$39.3Kβ¬33.8K
-45.59%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.8OMRΒ 30.73
$148β¬127
-46.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.22OMRΒ 8.94
$20.52β¬17.67
13.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.3OMRΒ 27.05
$39.61β¬34.10
77.35%
π Sport & Entertainment
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.1OMRΒ 33.13
$47.85β¬41.19
79.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92β¬16.29
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.47OMRΒ 4.03
$9.18β¬7.91
14.05%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$195OMRΒ 75.0
$614β¬529
-68.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,463OMRΒ 2,488
$16.0Kβ¬13.8K
-59.73%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0OMRΒ 19.63
$105β¬90.1
-51.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.75OMRΒ 15.30
$42.06β¬36.21
-5.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.1OMRΒ 30.05
$94.0β¬80.9
-16.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6OMRΒ 33.73
$120β¬103
-26.78%
π Accommodation & Living
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258OMRΒ 99.2
$1,628β¬1,401
-84.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265OMRΒ 102
$1,255β¬1,081
-78.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$468OMRΒ 180
$3,030β¬2,609
-84.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$391OMRΒ 150
$2,020β¬1,739
-80.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$571OMRΒ 220
$7,800β¬6,715
-92.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$522OMRΒ 201
$4,273β¬3,678
-87.78%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Sur
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,659OMRΒ 1,024
$1,603β¬1,380
65.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.15
3.81
35.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sur: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Sur and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Sur pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $26.00 in Sur vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Sur and Lisbon differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,105 vs $2,210 including rent). Sur is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sur or Lisbon?
Sur pays 66% 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 Sur and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $258 in Sur versus $1,628 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 25% 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 $1,105 per month in Sur versus $2,210 in Lisbon β a 100% 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 $1,105 in Sur versus $2,210 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 β 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 β expenses run 100% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.