😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $804 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,312 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,819 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 177% more expensive than Bayan Lepas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Bayan Lepas is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$3.56MYR 14.05
354.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$18.76MYR 74.1
244.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$4.24MYR 16.75
144.81%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$2.68MYR 10.58
3.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.77MYR 3.03
192.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.58MYR 2.27
170.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$4.84MYR 19.11
-27.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$4.76MYR 18.80
-15.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$2.33MYR 9.22
-53.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.92MYR 3.62
89.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.35MYR 5.34
28.89%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.65MYR 6.50
92.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$14.43MYR 57.0
-6.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.56MYR 18.02
75.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$6.46MYR 25.53
149.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.87MYR 11.34
-20.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.61MYR 6.34
6.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.99MYR 11.80
-35.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.21MYR 4.76
109.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.00MYR 3.94
83.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.04MYR 4.10
96.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.66MYR 2.61
200.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.65MYR 2.55
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$4.85MYR 19.15
41.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$20.37MYR 80.5
-71.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.84MYR 11.22
-51.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.32MYR 5.22
119.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.65MYR 2.57
250.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$14.23MYR 56.2
229.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$1.56MYR 6.17
161.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.02MYR 4.03
-19.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$5.79MYR 22.89
215.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.59MYR 2.32
240.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$35.2KMYR 139.2K
0.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$29.5KMYR 116.5K
30.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$33.05MYR 131
339.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$11.19MYR 44.20
87.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$30.33MYR 120
32.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$32.18MYR 127
51.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$4.56MYR 18.00
309.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$4.19MYR 16.55
116.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$236MYR 934
156.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,993MYR 27.6K
133.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$37.77MYR 149
177.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$25.31MYR 100.0
61.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$62.5MYR 247
49.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$79.2MYR 313
49.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$191MYR 753
741.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$213MYR 843
479.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$475MYR 1,875
541.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$553MYR 2,184
272.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$1,015MYR 4,009
56.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.3
15.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Bayan Lepas: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $191 in Bayan Lepas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 56% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $19.00 in Bayan Lepas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $245 per month, with Bayan Lepas cheaper across the board.
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
Lisbon vs Bayan Lepas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Bayan Lepas?
Lisbon and Bayan Lepas differ by about 177% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $804 including rent). Bayan Lepas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Bayan Lepas?
Lisbon pays 56% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Bayan Lepas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $191 in Bayan Lepas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Lisbon and Bayan Lepas?
A monthly transit pass in Bayan Lepas runs roughly 229% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Bayan Lepas?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $236 in Bayan Lepas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $804 in Bayan Lepas versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bayan Lepas but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Bayan Lepas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Bayan Lepas?
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 Lisbon or Bayan Lepas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Bayan Lepas 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: Lisbon or Bayan Lepas?
Expats usually find Bayan Lepas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 177% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.