Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Malda Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Malda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $532 in Malda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $673 in Malda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $813 in Malda.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 328% more expensive than in Malda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Malda is 60% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.64
$3.22 ₹307
389.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.0
$11.43 ₹1,091
455.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.05
$3.50 ₹334
198.57%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.52
$1.88 ₹179
54.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.98
$0.41 ₹39.04
458.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.30
$0.14 ₹13.50
971.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.09
$1.78 ₹170
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.43
$3.00 ₹286
32.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$0.60 ₹57.1
80.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.53
$0.40 ₹37.80
340.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.47
$0.49 ₹46.55
246.94%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.81
$0.76 ₹72.3
327.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.47
$5.54 ₹528
139.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.67
$2.61 ₹249
195.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.66
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.47 ₹236
-7.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$0.79 ₹75.7
110.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.33 ₹126
51.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.14
$0.64 ₹61.2
285.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.55
$0.30 ₹28.73
496.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.79
$0.33 ₹31.78
527.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.71
$0.44 ₹42.08
347.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.72
$0.15 ₹14.23
453.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.68
$3.91 ₹373
67.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.82
$9.00 ₹858
-38.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.15
$1.68 ₹160
-20.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.60
$2.42 ₹231
24.38%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$2.46 ₹235
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.97
$0.28 ₹26.57
710.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.14
$8.60 ₹821
438.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.66
$0.59 ₹56.4
616.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.28 ₹26.35
203.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.31
$1.99 ₹190
846.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.75
$1.23 ₹117
64.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.3K
$15.7K ₹1.5M
122.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.3K
$22.4K ₹2.1M
77.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €128
$41.19 ₹3,928
259.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.77
$3.83 ₹366
435.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.23
$5.66 ₹540
598.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €41.72
$15.80 ₹1,507
204.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €15.92
$7.00 ₹667
162.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.88
$4.16 ₹397
118.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €532
$43.87 ₹4,184
1301.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.1K
$1,567 ₹149.4K
939.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.0
$8.30 ₹791
1123.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.45
$8.29 ₹791
407.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €79.9
$48.98 ₹4,672
88.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$9.28 ₹885
1215.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,396
$296 ₹28.2K
444.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,086
$228 ₹21.8K
449.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,658
$399 ₹38.1K
668.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,764
$184 ₹17.5K
1009.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,712
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,712
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Malda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
9.9
-61.52%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Malda: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $296 in Malda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $11.00 in Malda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $107 per month, with Malda 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 Malda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Malda?
Lisbon and Malda differ by about 328% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $532 including rent). Malda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Malda?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $798 in Malda to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Malda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $296 in Malda. 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 Malda?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $43.87 in Malda. 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 150% 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 $532 in Malda versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malda but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Malda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Malda?
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 Malda safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Malda 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 Malda?
Expats usually find Malda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 328% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities