Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Miri Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Miri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $682 in Miri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,091 in Miri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,499 in Miri.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 224% more expensive than Miri, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Miri is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$3.22 MYR 12.78
394.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$11.73 MYR 46.49
452.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$4.02 MYR 15.94
161.44%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$2.68 MYR 10.61
7.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$0.70 MYR 2.76
220.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$0.36 MYR 1.45
316.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$2.89 MYR 11.45
20.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$3.70 MYR 14.66
4.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.35 MYR 5.37
-15.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.45 MYR 5.73
20.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$0.80 MYR 3.18
120.00%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$3.27 MYR 12.97
-1.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$11.01 MYR 43.64
22.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$4.80 MYR 19.05
64.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$12.04 MYR 47.72
31.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.16 MYR 12.53
-26.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.19 MYR 4.73
42.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.26 MYR 8.97
-11.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$1.38 MYR 5.49
78.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$0.59 MYR 2.35
211.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$0.90 MYR 3.57
122.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.91 MYR 3.61
112.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$0.33 MYR 1.33
139.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$4.23 MYR 16.77
56.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$20.47 MYR 81.2
-72.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$3.03 MYR 12.02
-54.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.27 MYR 8.98
30.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.36 MYR 5.41
74.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$8.72 MYR 34.59
422.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$1.20 MYR 4.77
257.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.75 MYR 2.97
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$5.76 MYR 22.85
217.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$0.46 MYR 1.83
347.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$57.9K MYR 229.7K
-40.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$28.2K MYR 111.8K
39.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$30.45 MYR 121
385.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$9.34 MYR 37.04
119.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$32.20 MYR 128
23.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$28.52 MYR 113
67.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$5.75 MYR 22.79
229.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$4.17 MYR 16.53
120.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$97.6 MYR 387
528.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$5,240 MYR 20.8K
206.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$35.09 MYR 139
198.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$19.06 MYR 75.6
120.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$44.89 MYR 178
109.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$31.98 MYR 127
274.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$311 MYR 1,231
424.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$165 MYR 656
658.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$494 MYR 1,961
512.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$379 MYR 1,501
433.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$1,286 MYR 5,100
506.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$697 MYR 2,765
512.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Miri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$767 MYR 3,041
109.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
3.63
4.96%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Miri: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $311 in Miri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 109% 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 $12.00 in Miri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $248 per month, with Miri 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 Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Miri?
Lisbon and Miri differ by about 224% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $682 including rent). Miri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Miri?
Lisbon pays 109% more on average, 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 Miri?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $311 in Miri. 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 Miri?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $97.6 in Miri. 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 9% 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 $682 in Miri versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Miri but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Miri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Miri?
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 Miri safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Miri 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 Miri?
Expats usually find Miri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 224% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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