😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $796 in Putrajaya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $1,205 in Putrajaya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $1,614 in Putrajaya.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 187% more expensive than in Putrajaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Putrajaya is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.67
$3.56MYR 14.53
342.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.1
$18.70MYR 76.4
239.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.07
$4.58MYR 18.70
128.17%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.53
$2.86MYR 11.69
1.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.99
$0.80MYR 3.26
186.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.37MYR 1.52
305.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$3.45MYR 14.08
3.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.44
$4.39MYR 17.94
-9.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.67MYR 6.82
-35.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$0.83MYR 3.41
112.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.28MYR 5.25
32.81%
Eggs
$3.25€2.82
$1.88MYR 7.68
72.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.49
$6.57MYR 26.81
101.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.68
$4.31MYR 17.60
78.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.68
$9.23MYR 37.67
70.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.98
$3.21MYR 13.12
-28.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$1.38MYR 5.64
20.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$3.11MYR 12.69
-35.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.15
$1.55MYR 6.32
59.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.52MYR 6.19
17.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.73MYR 7.07
19.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$1.66MYR 6.77
18.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.52MYR 2.12
59.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.69
$4.27MYR 17.43
53.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.83
$13.30MYR 54.3
-58.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$2.84MYR 11.58
-53.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.61
$2.87MYR 11.73
4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.72MYR 2.94
215.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.21
$11.84MYR 48.33
291.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.67
$0.98MYR 3.99
331.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.98MYR 4.01
-13.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.33
$6.02MYR 24.57
212.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.46MYR 1.89
339.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$35.7KMYR 145.7K
-2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.4K
$37.9KMYR 154.8K
4.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$45.30MYR 185
226.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
$9.28MYR 37.88
121.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.29
$22.62MYR 92.4
74.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.79
$38.22MYR 156
26.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.95
$9.01MYR 36.80
104.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.89
$5.09MYR 20.78
78.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€533
$186MYR 759
230.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$6,832MYR 27.9K
138.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.1
$66.0MYR 269
53.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.51
$19.02MYR 77.6
121.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.1
$73.8MYR 301
25.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$39.92MYR 163
205.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,398
$342MYR 1,396
371.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,088
$235MYR 959
433.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,663
$620MYR 2,533
394.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,767
$380MYR 1,552
435.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,724
$2,685MYR 11.0K
188.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,718
$1,803MYR 7,364
137.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Putrajaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,390
$1,041MYR 4,251
53.86%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Putrajaya: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $342 in Putrajaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 54% 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 $267 vs $219 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 187% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $796 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 54% 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $342 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $186 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 $796 in Putrajaya versus $2,280 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 187% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.