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: $868 in Kedah versus $2,263 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,344 in Kedah versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,819 in Kedah versus $4,368 in Lisbon.

Living in Kedah costs roughly 62% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kedah is 35% below, Lisbon is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02 MYR 12.25
$15.94 €13.82
-81.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.42 MYR 86.9
$63.4 €54.9
-66.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.28 MYR 17.36
$10.38 €9.00
-58.77%
Cappuccino
$2.95 MYR 11.96
$2.79 €2.42
5.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 MYR 3.02
$2.34 €2.03
-68.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MYR 1.48
$1.57 €1.36
-76.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.40 MYR 17.84
$3.43 €2.97
28.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 MYR 18.19
$3.91 €3.39
14.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 MYR 7.34
$1.08 €0.93
67.59%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 MYR 3.67
$1.77 €1.53
-48.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 MYR 4.92
$1.71 €1.48
-29.24%
Eggs
$2.11 MYR 8.58
$3.15 €2.73
-33.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.33 MYR 62.2
$13.68 €11.86
12.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.00 MYR 20.27
$8.01 €6.94
-37.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.66 MYR 59.5
$15.52 €13.45
-5.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 MYR 11.70
$2.29 €1.99
25.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 MYR 4.83
$1.64 €1.42
-27.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 MYR 10.60
$1.94 €1.68
34.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MYR 8.82
$2.51 €2.18
-13.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 MYR 4.83
$1.79 €1.55
-33.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 MYR 4.72
$2.01 €1.74
-42.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 MYR 3.92
$1.97 €1.70
-50.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 MYR 1.95
$0.84 €0.73
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 MYR 16.76
$6.79 €5.88
-39.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.59 MYR 79.5
$5.67 €4.92
245.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 MYR 10.70
$1.39 €1.20
89.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 MYR 13.67
$3.02 €2.61
11.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MYR 2.77
$2.27 €1.97
-70.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.77 MYR 47.74
$45.44 €39.38
-74.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 MYR 2.82
$4.29 €3.72
-83.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 MYR 1.92
$0.85 €0.74
-44.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.98 MYR 28.34
$18.28 €15.84
-61.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 2.00
$1.99 €1.72
-75.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K MYR 135.9K
$35.0K €30.4K
-4.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K MYR 111.0K
$39.5K €34.3K
-30.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.49 MYR 156
$146 €127
-73.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.99 MYR 40.52
$20.45 €17.72
-51.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.96 MYR 48.55
$38.98 €33.78
-69.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.49 MYR 148
$48.98 €42.46
-25.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.85 MYR 23.76
$18.83 €16.32
-68.93%
Cinema Ticket
$2.81 MYR 11.41
$9.52 €8.25
-70.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$238 MYR 964
$608 €527
-60.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,215 MYR 25.2K
$16.5K €14.3K
-62.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 MYR 225
$104 €90.0
-46.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.32 MYR 115
$42.12 €36.50
-32.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.0 MYR 252
$92.2 €79.9
-32.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.5 MYR 213
$120 €104
-56.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$380 MYR 1,541
$1,621 €1,405
-76.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 MYR 1,094
$1,268 €1,099
-78.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$646 MYR 2,622
$3,048 €2,642
-78.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MYR 1,886
$2,009 €1,741
-76.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,964 MYR 7,968
$7,663 €6,641
-74.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$957 MYR 3,882
$4,329 €3,752
-77.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kedah
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,322 MYR 5,363
$1,585 €1,374
-16.61%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Kedah and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 20% 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: $21.00 in Kedah vs $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 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 Lisbon?
Kedah and Lisbon differ by about 161% in total monthly costs ($868 vs $2,263 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, Lisbon earns 20% less. 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $380 in Kedah versus $1,621 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 $238 in Kedah versus $608 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 2% 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 $868 in Kedah versus $2,263 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 161% 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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