Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuantan and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuantan and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $786 per month in Kuantan vs $2,280 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Kuantan vs $3,294 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,554 per month in Kuantan vs $4,307 in Lisbon, rent included.

Kuantan is about 66% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kuantan sits 41% below the global median, while Lisbon is 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 MYR 9.80

$15.75 €13.64

-84.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.00 MYR 49.00

$63.5 €55.0

-81.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.36 MYR 13.70

$10.45 €9.05

-67.85%

Cappuccino

$2.26 MYR 9.24

$2.91 €2.52

-22.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.57

$2.29 €1.98

-72.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$1.50 €1.30

-76.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 MYR 14.64

$3.56 €3.09

0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.36 MYR 21.89

$3.96 €3.43

35.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MYR 6.93

$1.08 €0.94

57.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.38

$1.76 €1.53

-39.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.70 €1.47

-38.82%

Eggs

$1.25 MYR 5.12

$3.25 €2.81

-61.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.28 MYR 41.98

$13.25 €11.47

-22.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 MYR 14.01

$7.70 €6.67

-55.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.97 MYR 24.37

$15.77 €13.66

-62.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.20

$2.28 €1.97

31.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.29

$1.66 €1.43

7.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.90

$2.02 €1.75

44.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 MYR 8.07

$2.47 €2.14

-19.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.15

$1.79 €1.55

-29.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MYR 4.09

$2.07 €1.79

-51.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$1.97 €1.71

-65.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.83 €0.72

-33.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.38

$6.55 €5.68

-34.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 78.6

$5.57 €4.82

245.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 MYR 7.55

$1.33 €1.15

39.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 MYR 7.87

$3.01 €2.60

-35.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.87

$2.27 €1.97

-79.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.34 MYR 83.0

$46.35 €40.14

-56.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.17

$4.23 €3.66

-75.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.41 MYR 1.66

$0.85 €0.73

-51.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.19 MYR 17.09

$18.83 €16.31

-77.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.02

$2.02 €1.75

-75.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.2K MYR 135.7K

$35.0K €30.3K

-4.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.5K MYR 128.5K

$39.6K €34.3K

-20.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$23.17 MYR 94.6

$148 €128

-84.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.17 MYR 37.46

$20.52 €17.77

-55.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.09 MYR 86.1

$39.52 €34.23

-46.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.19 MYR 152

$48.17 €41.72

-22.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.91 MYR 24.11

$18.39 €15.92

-67.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 MYR 16.68

$9.10 €7.88

-55.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$117 MYR 479

$615 €532

-80.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,313 MYR 17.6K

$16.3K €14.1K

-73.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 MYR 291

$102 €88.0

-29.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.49 MYR 112

$42.09 €36.45

-34.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.31 MYR 156

$92.3 €79.9

-58.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.36 MYR 193

$122 €106

-61.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 MYR 672

$1,612 €1,396

-89.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,116

$1,254 €1,086

-78.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$213 MYR 868

$3,069 €2,658

-93.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 MYR 1,901

$2,037 €1,764

-77.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,082 MYR 8,501

$7,751 €6,712

-73.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,137 MYR 4,643

$4,286 €3,712

-73.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$975 MYR 3,979

$1,602 €1,387

-39.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.62

3.81

-4.99%

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

Last update for Kuantan: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $165 in Kuantan versus $1,612 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 64% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Kuantan versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $267 – making Kuantan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Kuantan vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 190%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,179 per month in Kuantan and $3,420 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $117 per month in Kuantan and $615 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $786, than in Lisbon at $2,280. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuantan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kuantan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.