Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kuantan Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Kuantan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,280 per month in Lisbon vs $786 in Kuantan, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Lisbon vs $1,170 in Kuantan, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,307 per month in Lisbon vs $1,554 in Kuantan, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 190% more than Kuantan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 71% above the global median, while Kuantan is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.64
$2.40 MYR 9.80
556.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.0
$12.00 MYR 49.00
429.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.05
$3.36 MYR 13.70
211.01%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.52
$2.26 MYR 9.24
28.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.98
$0.63 MYR 2.57
263.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.36 MYR 1.48
316.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.09
$3.59 MYR 14.64
-0.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.43
$5.36 MYR 21.89
-26.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.70 MYR 6.93
-36.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.53
$1.07 MYR 4.38
64.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$1.04 MYR 4.25
63.46%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.81
$1.25 MYR 5.12
160.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.47
$10.28 MYR 41.98
28.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.67
$3.43 MYR 14.01
124.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.66
$5.97 MYR 24.37
164.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.99 MYR 12.20
-23.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.78 MYR 7.29
-6.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$2.91 MYR 11.90
-30.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.14
$1.98 MYR 8.07
24.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$1.26 MYR 5.15
42.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.79
$1.00 MYR 4.09
107.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.71
$0.68 MYR 2.78
189.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.72
$0.55 MYR 2.25
50.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.68
$4.26 MYR 17.38
53.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.82
$19.24 MYR 78.6
-71.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$1.85 MYR 7.55
-28.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.60
$1.93 MYR 7.87
55.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$0.46 MYR 1.87
393.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.14
$20.34 MYR 83.0
127.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.66
$1.02 MYR 4.17
314.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.41 MYR 1.66
107.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.31
$4.19 MYR 17.09
349.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.75
$0.49 MYR 2.02
312.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.3K
$33.2K MYR 135.7K
5.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.3K
$31.5K MYR 128.5K
25.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$23.17 MYR 94.6
538.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.77
$9.17 MYR 37.46
123.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.23
$21.09 MYR 86.1
87.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €41.72
$37.19 MYR 152
29.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €15.92
$5.91 MYR 24.11
211.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.88
$4.09 MYR 16.68
122.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €532
$117 MYR 479
423.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.1K
$4,313 MYR 17.6K
277.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.0
$71.2 MYR 291
42.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.45
$27.49 MYR 112
53.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €79.9
$38.31 MYR 156
140.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$47.36 MYR 193
157.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,396
$165 MYR 672
879.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,086
$273 MYR 1,116
358.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,658
$213 MYR 868
1343.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,764
$466 MYR 1,901
337.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,712
$2,082 MYR 8,501
272.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,712
$1,137 MYR 4,643
276.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kuantan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,387
$975 MYR 3,979
64.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.62
5.25%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kuantan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Lisbon versus $165 in Kuantan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 64% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon versus $12.00 in Kuantan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $217 – making Kuantan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kuantan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kuantan cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 190%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,420 per month in Lisbon and $1,179 in Kuantan. 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 Kuantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $615 per month in Lisbon and $117 in Kuantan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and in Kuantan?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Lisbon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Kuantan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $786, than in Lisbon at $2,280. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Kuantan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kuantan – 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 Kuantan?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kuantan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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