😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $813 in Putrajaya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,223 in Putrajaya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,633 in Putrajaya.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 174% more expensive than Putrajaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Putrajaya is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$3.61MYR 14.24
347.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$19.11MYR 75.5
237.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$4.58MYR 18.11
126.64%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.02MYR 11.94
-8.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$0.76MYR 2.99
196.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.38MYR 1.49
313.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$3.56MYR 14.07
-1.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$4.47MYR 17.64
-10.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.65MYR 6.52
-34.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$0.80MYR 3.15
117.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.24MYR 4.91
40.32%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.80MYR 7.11
76.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$6.41MYR 25.33
109.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$4.43MYR 17.48
80.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$9.28MYR 36.67
73.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$3.16MYR 12.48
-27.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.34MYR 5.29
28.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$3.14MYR 12.42
-38.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.61MYR 6.38
57.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$1.50MYR 5.94
22.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.80MYR 7.11
13.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$1.64MYR 6.47
20.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.56MYR 2.23
51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$4.16MYR 16.43
64.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$14.83MYR 58.6
-61.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.85MYR 11.25
-51.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$2.92MYR 11.53
-0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$0.69MYR 2.71
230.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$11.86MYR 46.86
294.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.90MYR 3.56
353.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.02MYR 4.05
-19.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$5.76MYR 22.73
217.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$0.50MYR 1.98
302.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$35.9KMYR 141.7K
-1.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$38.0KMYR 149.9K
1.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$46.05MYR 182
215.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$9.11MYR 36.00
130.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$22.53MYR 89.0
77.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$37.33MYR 147
30.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$8.78MYR 34.70
112.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$4.89MYR 19.33
85.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$187MYR 740
223.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$6,902MYR 27.3K
136.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$65.5MYR 259
59.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$18.86MYR 74.5
117.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$73.7MYR 291
27.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$40.66MYR 161
191.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$344MYR 1,357
366.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$236MYR 932
423.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$640MYR 2,528
376.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$373MYR 1,474
451.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$2,097MYR 8,282
267.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,496MYR 5,908
185.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$1,283MYR 5,068
23.45%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Putrajaya: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $344 in Putrajaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 23% 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 $19.00 in Putrajaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $222 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 174% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $813 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 23% 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $344 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $187 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 $813 in Putrajaya versus $2,227 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 174% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.