😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $814 in Putrajaya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,208 in Putrajaya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,602 in Putrajaya.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 178% more expensive than Putrajaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Putrajaya is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$3.47MYR 14.08
359.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$19.15MYR 77.7
230.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$4.66MYR 18.89
122.75%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$2.86MYR 11.61
-2.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$0.74MYR 3.01
216.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.37MYR 1.50
324.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$3.56MYR 14.42
-3.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$4.54MYR 18.41
-13.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.74MYR 7.04
-37.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$0.79MYR 3.22
124.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.26MYR 5.10
35.71%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$1.84MYR 7.45
71.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$6.50MYR 26.36
110.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$4.43MYR 17.96
80.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$9.40MYR 38.11
65.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.22MYR 13.07
-28.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.34MYR 5.44
22.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$3.10MYR 12.58
-37.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$1.56MYR 6.32
60.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.53MYR 6.20
16.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.82MYR 7.38
10.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$1.58MYR 6.41
24.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.52MYR 2.10
61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$4.36MYR 17.66
55.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$14.31MYR 58.0
-60.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.76MYR 11.18
-49.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.93MYR 11.89
3.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.68MYR 2.75
233.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$11.59MYR 46.99
292.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$0.92MYR 3.74
366.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.02MYR 4.15
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$5.81MYR 23.56
214.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$0.49MYR 2.00
306.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$35.0KMYR 141.9K
0.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$38.1KMYR 154.4K
3.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$46.17MYR 187
216.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$8.82MYR 35.76
131.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$22.27MYR 90.3
75.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$38.22MYR 155
28.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$8.96MYR 36.35
110.16%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$4.92MYR 19.95
93.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$188MYR 762
223.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$6,937MYR 28.1K
138.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$63.6MYR 258
63.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$18.96MYR 76.9
122.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$73.2MYR 297
25.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$40.18MYR 163
198.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$337MYR 1,368
380.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$235MYR 954
438.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$637MYR 2,583
378.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$373MYR 1,511
439.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$2,047MYR 8,299
274.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$1,452MYR 5,887
198.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$1,266MYR 5,135
25.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.07
-6.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Putrajaya: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $337 in Putrajaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 25% 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 $19.00 in Putrajaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $221 per month, with Putrajaya 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 Putrajaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Putrajaya?
Lisbon and Putrajaya differ by about 178% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $814 including rent). Putrajaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Putrajaya?
Lisbon pays 25% 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 Putrajaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $337 in Putrajaya. 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 Putrajaya?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $188 in Putrajaya. 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 22% 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 $814 in Putrajaya versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Putrajaya but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Putrajaya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Putrajaya?
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 Putrajaya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Putrajaya 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 Putrajaya?
Expats usually find Putrajaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 178% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.