😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $812 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,327 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,842 in Bayan Lepas.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 179% more expensive than Bayan Lepas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Bayan Lepas is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$3.52MYR 14.29
352.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$18.98MYR 77.0
233.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$4.20MYR 17.03
147.14%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.77MYR 11.24
0.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.81MYR 3.29
188.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.53MYR 2.17
196.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$4.84MYR 19.61
-29.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$4.80MYR 19.45
-18.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$2.47MYR 10.01
-56.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$0.90MYR 3.64
96.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.34MYR 5.43
27.61%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$1.72MYR 6.97
83.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$14.85MYR 60.2
-7.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$4.64MYR 18.82
72.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$6.72MYR 27.26
130.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.92MYR 11.84
-21.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.61MYR 6.51
1.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$2.99MYR 12.14
-35.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$1.18MYR 4.81
112.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$0.98MYR 3.98
82.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.05MYR 4.26
91.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$0.61MYR 2.48
222.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.65MYR 2.62
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$4.90MYR 19.85
38.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$20.11MYR 81.6
-71.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.78MYR 11.27
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.31MYR 5.31
130.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.66MYR 2.68
243.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$14.08MYR 57.1
222.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$1.57MYR 6.35
173.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.03MYR 4.18
-17.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$6.06MYR 24.58
201.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.58MYR 2.34
243.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$35.6KMYR 144.4K
-1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$29.5KMYR 119.8K
33.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$34.16MYR 139
327.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$11.40MYR 46.22
79.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$29.97MYR 122
30.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$31.71MYR 129
54.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$4.55MYR 18.46
313.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$4.04MYR 16.38
135.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$237MYR 962
156.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$7,168MYR 29.1K
130.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$37.65MYR 153
175.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$26.14MYR 106
61.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$61.3MYR 249
50.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$78.6MYR 319
52.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$192MYR 779
744.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$211MYR 857
499.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$466MYR 1,889
554.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$565MYR 2,292
255.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Bayan Lepas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$999MYR 4,053
58.58%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Bayan Lepas: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $192 in Bayan Lepas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 59% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $19.00 in Bayan Lepas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $248 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 179% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $812 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 59% 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $192 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 223% 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $237 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 $812 in Bayan Lepas versus $2,263 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 179% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.