😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $957 in Subang Jaya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,362 in Subang Jaya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,767 in Subang Jaya.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 139% more expensive than in Subang Jaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Subang Jaya is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$3.60MYR 14.73
349.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$19.22MYR 78.6
229.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$4.76MYR 19.46
116.81%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.00MYR 12.29
-5.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$0.79MYR 3.24
189.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$0.46MYR 1.88
243.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$4.75MYR 19.45
-28.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$6.63MYR 27.13
-39.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.86MYR 7.59
-41.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$0.96MYR 3.91
82.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.44MYR 5.88
22.22%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$2.07MYR 8.46
53.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$14.78MYR 60.5
-10.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$4.73MYR 19.36
68.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$9.84MYR 40.23
57.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.89MYR 11.81
-17.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.34MYR 5.50
27.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.62MYR 10.73
-23.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$1.51MYR 6.18
60.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.23MYR 5.05
43.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.41MYR 5.76
43.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$1.22MYR 5.00
57.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$0.52MYR 2.14
63.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$4.12MYR 16.85
59.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$18.99MYR 77.7
-70.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.73MYR 11.17
-51.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$2.94MYR 12.02
1.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$0.25MYR 1.03
812.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$17.70MYR 72.4
158.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$1.16MYR 4.76
264.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$0.49MYR 2.02
65.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$4.60MYR 18.83
300.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$0.46MYR 1.87
352.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$35.2KMYR 144.0K
-1.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$33.1KMYR 135.5K
18.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$45.46MYR 186
225.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$11.55MYR 47.23
77.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$30.28MYR 124
30.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$23.82MYR 97.4
101.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$2.30MYR 9.39
708.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$4.80MYR 19.64
92.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$186MYR 761
230.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$6,903MYR 28.2K
138.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$60.9MYR 249
68.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$18.95MYR 77.5
120.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$83.7MYR 342
13.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$39.53MYR 162
208.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$495MYR 2,022
230.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$333MYR 1,361
270.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$630MYR 2,576
391.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$478MYR 1,957
324.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$2,362MYR 9,662
231.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$1,833MYR 7,499
139.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$914MYR 3,738
75.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.47
-14.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Subang Jaya: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $495 in Subang Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 76% 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 Subang Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $255 per month, with Subang Jaya 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 Subang Jaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Subang Jaya?
Lisbon and Subang Jaya differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $957 including rent). Subang Jaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Subang Jaya?
Average pay runs 76% 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 Subang Jaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $495 in Subang Jaya. 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 Subang Jaya?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $186 in Subang Jaya. 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 5% 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 $957 in Subang Jaya versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Subang Jaya but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Subang Jaya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Subang Jaya?
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 Subang Jaya safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Subang Jaya 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 Subang Jaya?
Expats usually find Subang Jaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.