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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $778 per month in Kuantan vs $2,263 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,179 per month in Kuantan vs $3,315 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,580 per month in Kuantan vs $4,368 in Lisbon, rent included.

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

Kuantan sits 42% below the global median, while Lisbon is 68% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.37 MYR 9.62
$15.94 €13.73
-85.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.80 MYR 47.85
$63.4 €54.6
-81.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.38 MYR 13.72
$10.38 €8.95
-67.44%
Cappuccino
$2.33 MYR 9.47
$2.79 €2.40
-16.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 MYR 2.71
$2.34 €2.01
-71.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MYR 1.48
$1.57 €1.35
-77.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 MYR 14.24
$3.43 €2.95
2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29 MYR 21.44
$3.91 €3.37
35.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 MYR 6.59
$1.08 €0.93
50.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 MYR 4.35
$1.77 €1.52
-39.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 MYR 4.26
$1.71 €1.47
-38.60%
Eggs
$1.29 MYR 5.25
$3.15 €2.71
-59.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 MYR 41.26
$13.68 €11.79
-25.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.50 MYR 14.21
$8.01 €6.90
-56.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.03 MYR 24.47
$15.52 €13.37
-61.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 MYR 12.02
$2.29 €1.98
29.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 MYR 7.21
$1.64 €1.41
8.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 MYR 12.08
$1.94 €1.67
53.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 MYR 8.33
$2.51 €2.17
-18.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 MYR 5.18
$1.79 €1.54
-28.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 MYR 4.07
$2.01 €1.73
-50.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 MYR 2.95
$1.97 €1.69
-62.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 MYR 2.20
$0.84 €0.73
-35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MYR 17.31
$6.79 €5.85
-37.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.84 MYR 80.4
$5.67 €4.89
249.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 MYR 7.79
$1.39 €1.20
38.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 MYR 7.59
$3.02 €2.60
-38.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 MYR 1.98
$2.27 €1.95
-78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.29 MYR 82.3
$45.44 €39.15
-55.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 MYR 3.96
$4.29 €3.70
-77.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 MYR 1.66
$0.85 €0.73
-51.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.18 MYR 16.97
$18.28 €15.75
-77.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 1.99
$1.99 €1.71
-75.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5K MYR 131.8K
$35.0K €30.2K
-7.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K MYR 127.5K
$39.5K €34.1K
-20.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$23.42 MYR 95.0
$146 €126
-83.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.32 MYR 37.81
$20.45 €17.62
-54.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.30 MYR 86.4
$38.98 €33.58
-45.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.44 MYR 148
$48.98 €42.21
-25.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.83 MYR 23.66
$18.83 €16.22
-69.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 MYR 16.44
$9.52 €8.21
-57.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 MYR 477
$608 €524
-80.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,379 MYR 17.8K
$16.5K €14.2K
-73.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 MYR 285
$104 €89.5
-32.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.14 MYR 110
$42.12 €36.29
-35.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$38.39 MYR 156
$92.2 €79.5
-58.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.31 MYR 192
$120 €103
-60.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$162 MYR 656
$1,621 €1,397
-90.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 MYR 1,106
$1,268 €1,092
-78.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$208 MYR 844
$3,048 €2,626
-93.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 MYR 1,893
$2,009 €1,731
-76.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,964 MYR 7,965
$7,663 €6,602
-74.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$939 MYR 3,810
$4,329 €3,730
-78.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuantan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$973 MYR 3,946
$1,585 €1,366
-38.60%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $162 in Kuantan versus $1,621 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 63% 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: $218 vs $269 – 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
Is Lisbon cheaper than Kuantan?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 191%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,167 per month in Kuantan and $3,394 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $118 per month in Kuantan and $608 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Kuantan and Lisbon?
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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kuantan or Lisbon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Lisbon at $2,263. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kuantan or Lisbon more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Kuantan or Lisbon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

Kuantan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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