😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $830 in Putrajaya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,234 in Putrajaya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $1,638 in Putrajaya.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 177% more expensive than in 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
$17.59€15.33
$3.78MYR 15.45
365.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$19.96MYR 81.5
214.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$3.89MYR 15.89
197.69%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$2.94MYR 12.00
5.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$0.80MYR 3.28
211.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$0.39MYR 1.61
346.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$3.59MYR 14.65
-3.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$4.65MYR 18.99
-26.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.75MYR 7.16
-34.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.10MYR 4.47
73.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.44MYR 5.88
4.17%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$1.73MYR 7.08
130.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$7.69MYR 31.39
72.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$4.56MYR 18.62
75.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$9.95MYR 40.61
81.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$2.48MYR 10.13
-5.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$1.57MYR 6.43
11.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.25MYR 9.19
-17.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$1.67MYR 6.83
52.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.38MYR 5.62
33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.43MYR 5.83
46.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$1.31MYR 5.37
13.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.51MYR 2.08
60.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$4.21MYR 17.20
68.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$13.26MYR 54.1
-55.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$2.95MYR 12.06
-55.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$3.15MYR 12.84
-32.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.77MYR 3.15
206.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$12.34MYR 50.4
277.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.01MYR 4.14
303.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.47MYR 1.94
142.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$9.97MYR 40.71
71.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$0.70MYR 2.84
230.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$41.7KMYR 170.1K
-18.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$33.9KMYR 138.3K
22.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$53.1MYR 217
217.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$11.26MYR 45.97
71.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$23.15MYR 94.5
44.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$34.95MYR 143
39.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$9.53MYR 38.91
103.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$5.03MYR 20.53
90.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$514MYR 2,099
35.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$4,473MYR 18.3K
287.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$66.0MYR 269
59.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$16.57MYR 67.7
188.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$82.0MYR 335
22.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$85.0MYR 347
46.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$350MYR 1,428
375.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$225MYR 920
452.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$650MYR 2,653
356.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$362MYR 1,478
465.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$2,705MYR 11.0K
189.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$1,786MYR 7,292
149.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$1,047MYR 4,276
55.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
4.06
-6.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Putrajaya: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $350 in Putrajaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 56% 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 $20.00 in Putrajaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 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 in Putrajaya?
Lisbon and Putrajaya differ by about 177% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $830 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?
Average pay runs 56% 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 Putrajaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $350 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $514 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 25% 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 $830 in Putrajaya versus $2,296 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 177% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.