Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuala Terengganu: $924 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $15,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kuala Terengganu
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$924
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kuala Terengganu and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kuala Terengganu and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Kuala Terengganu $924
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,372 in Kuala Terengganu versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Kuala Terengganu $1,372
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in Kuala Terengganu versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Kuala Terengganu $1,821
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 58% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuala Terengganu is 32% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 MYR 10.15
$16.50 €14.67
-84.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.06 MYR 94.1
$61.3 €54.5
-62.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.72 MYR 19.25
$11.27 €10.03
-58.12%
Cappuccino
$2.72 MYR 11.08
$3.06 €2.72
-11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MYR 1.90
$2.26 €2.01
-79.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 MYR 1.14
$1.73 €1.54
-83.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 MYR 14.52
$3.39 €3.02
5.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18 MYR 17.05
$3.40 €3.02
22.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MYR 6.94
$1.12 €1.00
51.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 MYR 4.15
$1.86 €1.65
-45.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 MYR 5.22
$1.53 €1.36
-16.34%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 8.68
$3.96 €3.53
-46.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.66 MYR 63.9
$12.76 €11.35
22.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 MYR 17.73
$7.90 €7.02
-44.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.41 MYR 34.29
$16.97 €15.09
-50.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 MYR 13.73
$2.27 €2.02
48.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 MYR 6.59
$1.75 €1.55
-8.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 MYR 8.59
$1.85 €1.64
13.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 MYR 6.13
$2.57 €2.28
-41.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 MYR 6.01
$1.86 €1.65
-20.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 MYR 4.45
$2.02 €1.80
-46.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 MYR 4.09
$1.44 €1.28
-30.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 MYR 2.17
$0.82 €0.73
-35.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.46 MYR 18.18
$6.56 €5.83
-32.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.84 MYR 72.8
$5.62 €5.00
217.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 MYR 11.91
$1.28 €1.14
128.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MYR 19.66
$2.07 €1.84
132.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 MYR 2.75
$2.35 €2.09
-71.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.62 MYR 43.31
$44.18 €39.30
-75.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 MYR 5.20
$3.99 €3.55
-68.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 MYR 1.89
$1.09 €0.97
-57.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.55 MYR 26.73
$16.64 €14.81
-60.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 MYR 3.65
$2.28 €2.03
-60.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.8K MYR 178.8K
$33.7K €30.0K
30.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K MYR 131.0K
$39.3K €35.0K
-18.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.25 MYR 185
$167 €149
-72.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 MYR 35.87
$18.80 €16.72
-53.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.10 MYR 102
$33.09 €29.43
-24.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.04 MYR 180
$46.01 €40.93
-4.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.97 MYR 32.49
$19.19 €17.07
-58.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 MYR 19.61
$9.84 €8.75
-51.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$172 MYR 701
$677 €602
-74.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,936 MYR 28.3K
$16.9K €15.1K
-59.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 MYR 235
$101 €90.1
-43.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.37 MYR 148
$45.76 €40.70
-20.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 MYR 353
$100.0 €88.9
-13.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0 MYR 278
$123 €109
-44.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$361 MYR 1,472
$1,614 €1,436
-77.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 MYR 1,275
$1,197 €1,065
-73.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$722 MYR 2,946
$2,862 €2,545
-74.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MYR 1,923
$1,990 €1,770
-76.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,073 MYR 8,456
$7,577 €6,740
-72.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,145 MYR 4,669
$4,307 €3,831
-73.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Terengganu
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,588 €1,412
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
3.85
5.45%

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

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: October 10, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kuala Terengganu
$312
Lisbon
$1.2K 283% $885
Groceries & Markets
Kuala Terengganu
$254
Lisbon
$269 6% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Terengganu
$112
Lisbon
$166 48.9% $55
Eating Out
Kuala Terengganu
$96
Lisbon
$242 153% $146
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Terengganu
$79
Lisbon
$219 177% $140
Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Terengganu
$54
Lisbon
$66 22.4% $12
Getting Around
Kuala Terengganu
$17
Lisbon
$63 273% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $361 in Kuala Terengganu and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $269 per month, with Kuala Terengganu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Kuala Terengganu
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
08:16 8:16 AM
01:16 1:16 AM
7 h behind Kuala Terengganu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
375,424
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kuala Terengganu Lisbon 11,530 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kuala Terengganu
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Kuala Terengganu vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kuala Terengganu and in Lisbon?
Kuala Terengganu and Lisbon differ by about 141% in total monthly costs ($924 vs $2,223 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Kuala Terengganu compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $1,386 in Kuala Terengganu and $3,335 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Kuala Terengganu and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $361 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kuala Terengganu or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,223 in Lisbon – a 141% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Kuala Terengganu and in Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 316% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $924 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kuala Terengganu 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: Kuala Terengganu or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kuala Terengganu vs other spots: cost of living compared

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