Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kuala Lipis

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuala Lipis: $897 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $15,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Kuala Lipis, Malaysia
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Kuala Lipis
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$897
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Kuala Lipis

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Kuala Lipis actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $897 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Kuala Lipis $897

A couple spends around $3,275 per month in Lisbon vs $1,420 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Kuala Lipis $1,420

A family of three spends $4,341 per month in Lisbon vs $1,944 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Kuala Lipis $1,944

Lisbon costs about 146% more than Kuala Lipis, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lisbon sits 62% above the global median, while Kuala Lipis is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.95
$3.59 MYR 14.62
363.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$24.70 MYR 101
149.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$4.98 MYR 20.31
128.11%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$2.99 MYR 12.20
-0.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$0.85 MYR 3.48
169.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$0.42 MYR 1.70
314.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$3.21 MYR 13.06
5.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$5.63 MYR 22.94
-41.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$1.95 MYR 7.96
-40.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$1.08 MYR 4.38
76.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$1.47 MYR 6.00
2.72%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$1.78 MYR 7.24
125.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$9.81 MYR 39.99
31.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.98
$3.17 MYR 12.92
145.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.95
$9.58 MYR 39.01
85.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$3.59 MYR 14.64
-35.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$1.85 MYR 7.54
-6.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$2.75 MYR 11.22
-32.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$1.83 MYR 7.46
41.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$2.16 MYR 8.80
-15.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$2.05 MYR 8.36
-3.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.49 MYR 6.06
-1.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.52 MYR 2.11
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.91
$4.46 MYR 18.17
47.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$19.69 MYR 80.2
-71.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$2.71 MYR 11.04
-49.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$4.44 MYR 18.08
-51.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$0.66 MYR 2.67
253.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
$13.50 MYR 55.0
230.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$1.20 MYR 4.91
220.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.36 MYR 1.46
197.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
$8.79 MYR 35.81
87.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$0.81 MYR 3.29
171.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$44.9K MYR 183.1K
-23.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$34.8K MYR 142.0K
11.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$49.77 MYR 203
223.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$8.30 MYR 33.81
121.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$27.35 MYR 111
19.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.02
$40.93 MYR 167
8.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$7.48 MYR 30.46
155.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$4.88 MYR 19.88
96.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$276 MYR 1,125
141.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$10.3K MYR 42.0K
70.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.6
$51.6 MYR 210
97.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.94
$29.76 MYR 121
49.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$77.7 MYR 317
26.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$86.8 MYR 354
42.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$385 MYR 1,571
317.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$268 MYR 1,092
344.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,526
$693 MYR 2,824
305.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,808
$558 MYR 2,272
260.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,042
$2,178 MYR 8,872
260.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,110
$1,305 MYR 5,315
250.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kuala Lipis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
4.51
-14.63%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lipis: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Kuala Lipis
$268 77.5% $922
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Kuala Lipis
$251 7.8% $21
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Kuala Lipis
$112 53.8% $131
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Kuala Lipis
$85 59.8% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Kuala Lipis
$111 33.3% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Kuala Lipis
$51 20.5% $13
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Kuala Lipis
$19 69.7% $44

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,608 in Lisbon versus $385 in Kuala Lipis. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Lisbon versus $25 in Kuala Lipis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $251 – making Kuala Lipis the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇲🇾 Kuala Lipis
🕒 Local time
20:48 8:48 PM
04:48 4:48 AM
8 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
20,000
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.07 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.54 MYR (1 MYR = 0.22 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Kuala Lipis 11,520 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Kuala Lipis

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kuala Lipis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kuala Lipis cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 146%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $1,345 in Kuala Lipis. 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 Kuala Lipis, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $385 there versus $1,608 in Lisbon.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Kuala Lipis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $897 in Kuala Lipis. That makes Kuala Lipis about 59% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 70% less in Kuala Lipis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Kuala Lipis?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuala Lipis, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Lisbon at $2,210. In Kuala Lipis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Kuala Lipis more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kuala Lipis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Kuala Lipis?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Kuala Lipis is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 59% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?