😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $966 in Johor Bahru.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,378 in Johor Bahru.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,791 in Johor Bahru.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 131% more expensive than Johor Bahru, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Johor Bahru is 28% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$3.53MYR 13.93
358.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$18.69MYR 73.8
245.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$4.76MYR 18.82
118.07%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.01MYR 11.90
-7.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.85MYR 3.35
164.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.49MYR 1.93
220.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$3.51MYR 13.85
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$6.76MYR 26.71
-40.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.80MYR 7.11
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.98MYR 3.89
77.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.24MYR 4.89
40.32%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.84MYR 7.26
72.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$10.67MYR 42.16
25.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$3.55MYR 14.01
125.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$8.25MYR 32.60
95.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.66MYR 10.51
-14.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.46MYR 5.76
17.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.57MYR 10.16
-24.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.25MYR 4.93
103.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.14MYR 4.51
60.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.34MYR 5.30
52.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.94MYR 3.71
110.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.52MYR 2.04
63.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$4.17MYR 16.47
64.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$14.50MYR 57.3
-60.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.68MYR 10.59
-48.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.92MYR 11.53
-0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.72MYR 2.86
216.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$11.81MYR 46.65
296.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.97MYR 3.84
320.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.02MYR 4.04
-19.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$9.09MYR 35.92
100.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.47MYR 1.84
327.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$34.8KMYR 137.4K
1.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$28.1KMYR 111.0K
36.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$40.87MYR 161
255.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$9.23MYR 36.44
127.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$30.64MYR 121
30.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$35.09MYR 139
39.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$5.82MYR 22.99
221.13%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$4.90MYR 19.35
84.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$191MYR 755
217.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,900MYR 27.3K
136.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$49.07MYR 194
113.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$19.14MYR 75.6
113.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$54.2MYR 214
72.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$39.65MYR 157
198.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$468MYR 1,848
242.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$396MYR 1,565
211.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$843MYR 3,331
261.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$599MYR 2,366
243.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$2,090MYR 8,254
268.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,190MYR 4,700
258.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Johor Bahru
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$1,155MYR 4,562
37.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.07
-6.39%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Johor Bahru: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $468 in Johor Bahru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 37% 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 Johor Bahru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $218 per month, with Johor Bahru cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Lisbon vs Johor Bahru: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Johor Bahru?
Lisbon and Johor Bahru differ by about 131% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $966 including rent). Johor Bahru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Johor Bahru?
Lisbon pays 37% 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 Johor Bahru?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $468 in Johor Bahru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Johor Bahru – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $65.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Johor Bahru?
All in, you'll spend $2,227 per month in Lisbon versus $966 in Johor Bahru – a 131% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $966 in Johor Bahru versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Johor Bahru but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Johor Bahru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Johor Bahru?
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 Johor Bahru safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Johor Bahru 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 Johor Bahru?
Expats usually find Johor Bahru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 131% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.