🇦🇪 Dubai vs 🇵🇹 Lisbon
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Lisbon is 32% cheaper than Dubai
Quick answer
Comparing Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Lisbon, Portugal: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $3,846 in Dubai versus $2,604 in Lisbon. Lisbon is roughly 32% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $2,286/mo (Dubai) vs $1,466/mo (Lisbon). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $3,846/mo in Dubai single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,604/mo in Lisbon single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $2,286/mo in Dubai · $1,466/mo in Lisbon.
- Cheaper overall: Lisbon ~32% cheaper than Dubai.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,700/mo | $1,800/mo | -33% |
| Moderate | $3,846/mo | $2,604/mo | -32% |
| Comfortable | $5,750/mo | $3,900/mo | -32% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $2,286/mo | $1,466/mo | -36% |
| Groceries & Food | $480/mo | $350/mo | -27% |
| Dining Out | $240/mo | $175/mo | -27% |
| Transport | $240/mo | $175/mo | -27% |
| Utilities & Internet | $240/mo | $175/mo | -27% |
| Healthcare | $192/mo | $140/mo | -27% |
| Leisure & Personal | $168/mo | $123/mo | -27% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: FCSC (UAE), World Bank / INE (Statistics Portugal), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | -7% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $2 | $1 | -47% |
| Eggs (12) | $3 | $3 | -7% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $8 | $7 | -14% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $2 | $1 | -25% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $3 | $2 | -30% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $2 | $2 | +38% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawarma (street) | $3 | $10 | +252% |
| Fast food combo meal | $8 | $8 | 0% |
| Cappuccino | $5 | $2 | -63% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $11 | $3 | -71% |
Housing
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (Marina/Downtown) | $2,286 | $1,466 | -36% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,468 | $800 | -46% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $3,200 | $2,100 | -34% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $2,000 | $1,400 | -30% |
Transport
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass (NOL) | $82 | $44 | -46% |
| Taxi start | $3 | $4 | +21% |
| Taxi per km | $1 | $1 | +32% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $2 | +131% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $175 | $120 | -31% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $82 | $35 | -57% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $40 | $18 | -55% |
Clothing
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of jeans (Levi's) | $65 | $78 | +20% |
| Running shoes (Nike/Adidas) | $85 | $35 | -59% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $65 | $40 | -38% |
| Cinema ticket | $11 | $8 | -27% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $13 | $15 | +15% |
Quick Facts
🇦🇪 Dubai
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,846
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,286/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $10.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $80
- Internet speed
- 200 Mbps
- Safety index
- 88/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 88/100
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
🇵🇹 Lisbon
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,604
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,466/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.45
- Inexpensive meal
- $14.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $44
- Internet speed
- 115 Mbps
- Safety index
- 78/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 92/100
- Country
- Portugal
Explore more: Dubai city guide | Lisbon city guide | United Arab Emirates | Portugal