Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Kedah and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $857 in Kedah versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,327 in Kedah versus $3,289 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,798 in Kedah versus $4,369 in Lisbon.

Living in Kedah costs roughly 61% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kedah is 36% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14 MYR 12.82
$15.71 €13.78
-80.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.57 MYR 88.2
$62.9 €55.2
-65.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.26 MYR 17.42
$10.53 €9.24
-59.54%
Cappuccino
$2.94 MYR 12.02
$2.88 €2.53
2.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 MYR 3.02
$2.25 €1.98
-67.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 MYR 1.37
$1.56 €1.37
-78.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.38 MYR 17.91
$3.39 €2.97
29.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 MYR 17.67
$3.90 €3.42
10.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 MYR 7.47
$1.08 €0.95
69.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 MYR 3.97
$1.73 €1.52
-43.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 MYR 4.75
$1.76 €1.54
-34.09%
Eggs
$2.04 MYR 8.32
$3.16 €2.77
-35.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.76 MYR 60.4
$13.29 €11.66
11.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.00 MYR 20.44
$7.87 €6.90
-36.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.52 MYR 59.4
$15.84 €13.89
-8.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 MYR 11.31
$2.40 €2.11
15.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 MYR 4.95
$1.70 €1.49
-28.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 MYR 10.98
$2.03 €1.78
32.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.11 MYR 8.64
$2.52 €2.21
-16.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 MYR 4.88
$1.86 €1.63
-36.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 MYR 4.94
$2.06 €1.81
-41.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 MYR 3.96
$2.00 €1.76
-51.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.83
$0.78 €0.68
-42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MYR 16.96
$6.65 €5.83
-37.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.04 MYR 77.8
$5.78 €5.07
229.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 MYR 10.85
$1.38 €1.21
92.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MYR 14.46
$3.02 €2.65
17.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 MYR 2.86
$2.33 €2.04
-69.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.64 MYR 47.59
$45.45 €39.88
-74.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MYR 3.00
$4.08 €3.58
-82.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MYR 2.04
$0.80 €0.70
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 MYR 28.96
$18.65 €16.36
-62.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 MYR 2.04
$2.00 €1.76
-75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K MYR 137.5K
$35.4K €31.0K
-4.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K MYR 113.6K
$39.1K €34.3K
-28.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.56 MYR 158
$150 €132
-74.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.94 MYR 40.63
$20.55 €18.03
-51.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76 MYR 48.07
$39.45 €34.61
-70.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.42 MYR 153
$48.06 €42.17
-22.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04 MYR 24.68
$18.70 €16.40
-67.70%
Cinema Ticket
$2.81 MYR 11.49
$9.30 €8.16
-69.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$236 MYR 964
$628 €551
-62.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,189 MYR 25.3K
$16.5K €14.4K
-62.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 MYR 221
$102 €89.1
-46.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.68 MYR 117
$41.55 €36.45
-30.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.3 MYR 255
$92.5 €81.1
-32.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8 MYR 220
$123 €108
-56.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$382 MYR 1,561
$1,628 €1,428
-76.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 MYR 1,118
$1,233 €1,081
-77.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$650 MYR 2,657
$3,126 €2,742
-79.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 MYR 1,946
$2,058 €1,805
-76.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,045 MYR 8,362
$7,762 €6,810
-73.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,134 MYR 4,635
$4,386 €3,848
-74.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,301 MYR 5,319
$1,621 €1,422
-19.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
3.81
9.19%

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

Last update for Kedah: July 21, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Kedah and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Kedah vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $270 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
Kedah vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kedah and in Lisbon?
Kedah and Lisbon differ by about 158% in total monthly costs ($857 vs $2,210 including rent). Kedah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kedah and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $382 in Kedah 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 Kedah and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $236 in Kedah versus $628 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 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $857 in Kedah versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kedah but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kedah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kedah 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 Kedah or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kedah 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: Kedah or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Kedah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kedah vs other spots: cost of living compared

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