Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Malang

For one person, living is cheaper in Malang: $464 a month against $2,210 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon, Portugal
Malang, Indonesia
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Malang
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$464
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Malang

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 Malang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $464 in Malang.

  • Lisbon $2,210
  • Malang $464

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,275 in Lisbon versus $713 in Malang.

  • Lisbon $3,275
  • Malang $713

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,341 in Lisbon versus $963 in Malang.

  • Lisbon $4,341
  • Malang $963

Living in Lisbon is roughly 377% more expensive than in Malang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Malang is 66% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.65 €14.96
$1.13 Rp 20.3K
1373.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.7 €55.5
$11.09 Rp 199.9K
456.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.36 €10.20
$2.80 Rp 50.5K
305.71%
Cappuccino
$2.97 €2.67
$1.25 Rp 22.6K
137.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.06
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
308.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.56
$0.21 Rp 3,782
728.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €3.06
$2.24 Rp 40.4K
51.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 €2.97
$4.17 Rp 75.1K
-20.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 €1.04
$0.94 Rp 16.9K
23.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.72
$1.07 Rp 19.3K
78.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 €1.36
$0.77 Rp 13.9K
96.10%
Eggs
$4.02 €3.61
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
243.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 €11.62
$5.60 Rp 101.0K
131.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 €6.99
$3.00 Rp 54.1K
159.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.76 €15.96
$6.89 Rp 124.1K
157.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 €2.07
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
16.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.56
$1.29 Rp 23.3K
34.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.67
$1.51 Rp 27.3K
23.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.59 €2.33
$1.39 Rp 25.1K
86.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 €1.64
$1.30 Rp 23.4K
40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.77
$1.92 Rp 34.7K
2.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.32
$0.50 Rp 8,931
194.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 €0.65
$0.42 Rp 7,608
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.92
$2.57 Rp 46.4K
156.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 €5.04
$12.41 Rp 223.7K
-54.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.22
$1.65 Rp 29.7K
-17.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.92
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
-25.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 €2.10
$0.58 Rp 10.5K
301.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.68 €40.14
$5.39 Rp 97.1K
728.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.85 €3.46
$0.49 Rp 8,861
685.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 €0.96
$0.38 Rp 6,824
181.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.46 €14.79
$5.61 Rp 101.1K
193.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 €1.98
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
201.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €30.7K
$25.1K Rp 452.3M
36.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €34.8K
$27.4K Rp 494.1M
41.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 €145
$30.88 Rp 556.6K
422.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.41 €16.54
$2.30 Rp 41.5K
700.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.74 €29.41
$19.26 Rp 347.2K
69.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.55 €40.03
$14.37 Rp 259.0K
210.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 €17.16
$4.58 Rp 82.5K
317.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.60 €8.62
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
410.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$668 €600
$30.06 Rp 541.8K
2121.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.8K
$9,230 Rp 166.4M
90.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €91.7
$55.7 Rp 1.0M
83.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46 €39.95
$22.42 Rp 404.1K
98.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 €88.5
$50.8 Rp 916.0K
93.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$35.21 Rp 634.6K
251.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,608 €1,445
$136 Rp 2.5M
1081.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,190 €1,069
$89.5 Rp 1.6M
1229.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 €2,527
$196 Rp 3.5M
1337.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 €1,809
$154 Rp 2.8M
1207.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,839 €7,043
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,576 €4,111
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Malang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,575 €1,415
$201 Rp 3.6M
684.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
4
-3.75%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Last update for Malang: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Malang
$89 92.5% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$272
Malang
$165 39.6% $108
Eating Out
Lisbon
$243
Malang
$55 77.3% $188
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$212
Malang
$52 75.3% $160
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$166
Malang
$74 55.5% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$64
Malang
$18 71.6% $46
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Malang
$10 84% $53

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,608 in Lisbon and $136 in Malang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays about 7.8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $62 in Lisbon vs $11 in Malang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $165 per month, with Malang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇮🇩 Malang
🕒 Local time
14:00 2:00 PM
21:00 9:00 PM
7 h ahead of Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
857,891
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

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

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,025 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.55 USD). 1 EUR = 20,061 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Malang 13,300 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Malang

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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Malang?
Lisbon and Malang differ by about 377% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $464 including rent). Malang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Malang?
Average pay in Lisbon is about 7.8 times higher, 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 in Malang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,608 in Lisbon versus $136 in Malang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Malang?
Childcare runs $668 in Lisbon versus $30 in Malang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $464 in Malang versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Malang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Malang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Malang?
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 Malang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Malang 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 Malang?
Expats usually find Malang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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