Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kuala Terengganu Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kuala Terengganu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 213% more expensive than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Kuala Terengganu is 47% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.91 €13.69

$2.29 MYR 9.08

594.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 €55.7

$21.99 MYR 87.2

194.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 €9.04

$4.36 MYR 17.30

141.06%

Cappuccino

$2.87 €2.47

$2.97 MYR 11.79

-3.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 €1.93

$0.44 MYR 1.75

409.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 €1.29

$0.27 MYR 1.07

455.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €3.00

$3.57 MYR 14.16

-2.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 €3.34

$4.86 MYR 19.27

-20.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 €0.98

$1.54 MYR 6.12

-25.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.51

$0.96 MYR 3.79

82.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.51

$1.25 MYR 4.95

40.80%

Eggs

$3.22 €2.77

$2.05 MYR 8.11

57.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.49 €11.61

$15.08 MYR 59.8

-10.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 €6.81

$4.40 MYR 17.46

79.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.87 €13.65

$9.68 MYR 38.38

63.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 €1.99

$2.98 MYR 11.83

-22.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 €1.46

$1.45 MYR 5.76

17.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.73

$2.57 MYR 10.20

-21.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 €2.12

$1.38 MYR 5.47

78.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 €1.59

$1.24 MYR 4.91

48.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 €1.72

$1.33 MYR 5.26

50.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 €1.66

$1.05 MYR 4.16

83.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 €0.68

$0.52 MYR 2.07

51.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 €5.68

$4.36 MYR 17.29

51.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 €4.92

$18.78 MYR 74.5

-69.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

$2.82 MYR 11.19

-51.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.56

$3.01 MYR 11.93

-1.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.37 €2.04

$0.74 MYR 2.95

220.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.56 €39.19

$11.98 MYR 47.50

280.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 €3.69

$1.20 MYR 4.77

257.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$0.99 MYR 3.91

-17.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.30 €15.74

$6.05 MYR 23.99

202.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.06 €1.78

$0.50 MYR 2.00

312.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.3K €29.5K

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

-3.14%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.3K €33.8K

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

22.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €127

$43.46 MYR 172

240.24%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.52 €17.65

$9.35 MYR 37.07

119.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 €34.08

$29.66 MYR 118

33.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.85 €41.16

$36.44 MYR 144

31.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 €16.28

$5.79 MYR 22.96

226.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.18 €7.90

$4.98 MYR 19.74

84.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$614 €528

$184 MYR 730

233.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K €13.8K

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

127.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €90.0

$60.9 MYR 242

71.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.06 €36.18

$26.86 MYR 106

56.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 €80.8

$74.2 MYR 294

26.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 €103

$51.1 MYR 202

134.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 €1,400

$199 MYR 787

719.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,255 €1,080

$120 MYR 476

946.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,030 €2,607

$648 MYR 2,571

367.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 €1,738

$273 MYR 1,084

639.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,800 €6,709

$1,973 MYR 7,823

295.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,273 €3,675

$978 MYR 3,879

336.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,603 €1,379

$505 MYR 2,001

217.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

4.07

-6.39%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 218% 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 $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $250 per month, with Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Kuala Terengganu differ by about 213% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $706 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lisbon pays 218% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu – a 213% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 280% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Kuala Terengganu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 213% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.