😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $948 in Subang Jaya.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,368 in Subang Jaya.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $1,787 in Subang Jaya.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 133% more expensive than Subang Jaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Subang Jaya is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$3.60MYR 14.27
341.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$18.64MYR 73.9
247.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$4.63MYR 18.37
127.00%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.96MYR 11.75
-3.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$0.80MYR 3.18
180.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.45MYR 1.80
233.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$4.64MYR 18.38
-24.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$6.61MYR 26.22
-41.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.79MYR 7.09
-36.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$0.94MYR 3.72
86.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.44MYR 5.70
22.22%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$2.09MYR 8.30
54.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$14.83MYR 58.8
-9.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.66MYR 18.50
69.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$10.04MYR 39.82
58.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.99MYR 11.87
-22.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.30MYR 5.15
30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.63MYR 10.43
-23.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.53MYR 6.05
60.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.23MYR 4.87
49.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.39MYR 5.50
43.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$1.17MYR 4.64
64.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.53MYR 2.10
49.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$4.23MYR 16.75
56.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$19.44MYR 77.1
-70.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.79MYR 11.05
-50.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$2.96MYR 11.75
0.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$0.25MYR 1.00
848.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$17.52MYR 69.5
160.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.20MYR 4.76
257.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$0.51MYR 2.00
60.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$4.69MYR 18.60
290.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$0.47MYR 1.86
338.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.3KMYR 140.0K
-2.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$33.4KMYR 132.5K
17.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$45.16MYR 179
227.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$11.51MYR 45.64
78.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$30.09MYR 119
31.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$23.41MYR 92.8
104.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$2.41MYR 9.54
685.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$4.81MYR 19.09
90.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$187MYR 740
228.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$7,041MYR 27.9K
127.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$59.8MYR 237
74.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$18.66MYR 74.0
125.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$83.0MYR 329
13.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$39.69MYR 157
201.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$505MYR 2,001
222.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$326MYR 1,292
285.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$624MYR 2,472
385.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$476MYR 1,889
324.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$1,938MYR 7,682
302.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$961MYR 3,812
344.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Subang Jaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$936MYR 3,712
71.29%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Subang Jaya: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $505 in Subang Jaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 71% 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 Subang Jaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $256 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 Subang Jaya?
Lisbon and Subang Jaya differ by about 133% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $948 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?
Lisbon pays 71% 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 Subang Jaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $505 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $187 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 $948 in Subang Jaya versus $2,210 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 133% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.