😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $313 in Malappuram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $485 in Malappuram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $656 in Malappuram.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 632% more expensive than in Malappuram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Malappuram is 77% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$1.79₹172
804.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$8.19₹788
673.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$3.73₹359
176.68%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$1.59₹153
77.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$0.35₹33.28
554.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.13₹12.40
1115.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$1.46₹141
132.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$2.57₹247
56.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$0.57₹55.0
91.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.47₹45.23
272.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.45₹43.54
291.11%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$0.79₹75.6
301.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$4.11₹396
220.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$2.83₹272
181.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$1.84₹177
28.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$0.64₹62.1
167.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$0.85₹81.5
136.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$0.34₹32.89
614.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$0.40₹38.65
340.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$0.35₹34.09
480.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$0.91₹87.4
110.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.33₹31.92
157.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$2.54₹245
159.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$1.69₹162
230.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$1.58₹152
-15.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$4.30₹414
-30.93%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$3.72₹358
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.19₹18.07
1100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$4.72₹454
870.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$0.49₹47.49
763.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.36₹34.25
125.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$0.59₹57.2
3025.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.17₹113
77.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$11.6K₹1.1M
198.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$17.8K₹1.7M
120.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$32.32₹3,111
358.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$2.82₹271
625.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$7.20₹694
449.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$7.28₹701
559.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$4.72₹455
294.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$1.93₹186
377.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$31.45₹3,028
1858.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$927₹89.2K
1673.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$14.92₹1,436
588.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$20.83₹2,005
100.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$25.91₹2,494
265.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$14.84₹1,429
722.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$116₹11.2K
1301.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$69.0₹6,643
1685.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$196₹18.8K
1483.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$139₹13.4K
1362.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$6,504₹626.2K
20.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$366₹35.3K
1097.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Malappuram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$216₹20.8K
644.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
7.69
-50.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Malappuram: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $116 in Malappuram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 645% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $8.00 in Malappuram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $89.0 per month, with Malappuram 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 Malappuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Malappuram?
Lisbon and Malappuram differ by about 632% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $313 including rent). Malappuram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Malappuram?
Average pay runs 645% higher in Lisbon, 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 Malappuram?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $116 in Malappuram. 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 Malappuram?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $31.45 in Malappuram. 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 199% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $313 in Malappuram versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malappuram but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Malappuram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Malappuram?
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 Malappuram safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Malappuram 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 Malappuram?
Expats usually find Malappuram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 632% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.