😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $771 in Seremban.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,194 in Seremban.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,617 in Seremban.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 187% more expensive than Seremban, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Seremban is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$2.91MYR 11.63
446.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$18.56MYR 74.0
248.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$3.51MYR 14.00
199.43%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.67MYR 10.66
7.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.83MYR 3.31
169.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$0.46MYR 1.82
226.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$3.53MYR 14.07
-1.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$6.67MYR 26.60
-41.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.75MYR 6.99
-34.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.94MYR 3.76
86.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.23MYR 4.92
43.09%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.86MYR 7.44
73.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$15.08MYR 60.2
-10.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.12MYR 16.45
91.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$8.33MYR 33.23
90.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$3.61MYR 14.40
-36.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.21MYR 4.82
40.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.62MYR 10.47
-23.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.70MYR 6.78
44.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.08MYR 4.29
70.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.31MYR 5.23
52.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.29MYR 5.13
49.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.56MYR 2.25
41.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$4.30MYR 17.16
53.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$14.38MYR 57.4
-60.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$2.76MYR 11.00
-50.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$4.20MYR 16.77
-29.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.10MYR 4.39
115.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$12.00MYR 47.89
279.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$0.73MYR 2.90
487.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.88MYR 3.51
-6.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$4.62MYR 18.44
296.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.46MYR 1.85
347.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$49.2KMYR 196.2K
-30.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$33.4KMYR 133.2K
17.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$37.92MYR 151
289.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$8.98MYR 35.84
128.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$25.83MYR 103
53.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$56.6MYR 226
-15.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$5.99MYR 23.90
215.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$4.13MYR 16.49
122.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$187MYR 744
229.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,509MYR 18.0K
255.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$66.1MYR 264
58.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$18.81MYR 75.0
123.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$73.9MYR 295
27.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$39.69MYR 158
201.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$260MYR 1,038
525.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$186MYR 741
576.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$430MYR 1,717
604.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$349MYR 1,393
478.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Seremban
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$837MYR 3,339
91.62%
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 1, 2026
Last update for Seremban: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $260 in Seremban. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 92% 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 Seremban for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $243 per month, with Seremban 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 Seremban: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Seremban?
Lisbon and Seremban differ by about 187% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $771 including rent). Seremban is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Seremban?
Lisbon pays 92% 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 Seremban?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $260 in Seremban. 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 Seremban?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $187 in Seremban. 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 11% 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 $771 in Seremban versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Seremban but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Seremban the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Seremban?
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 Seremban safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Seremban 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 Seremban?
Expats usually find Seremban 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.