Cost of Living Comparison Between Malahide and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Malahide and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,506 in Malahide versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,745 in Malahide versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,985 in Malahide versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Malahide is roughly 13% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Malahide 87% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.69 €18.66
$15.91 €13.69
36.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106 €90.9
$64.8 €55.7
63.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.36 €8.91
$10.51 €9.04
-1.43%
Cappuccino
$4.28 €3.68
$2.87 €2.47
49.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 €2.02
$2.24 €1.93
4.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 €1.65
$1.50 €1.29
28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.03 €6.04
$3.49 €3.00
101.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.09 €5.24
$3.88 €3.34
56.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 €1.36
$1.14 €0.98
38.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.75 €1.51
15.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$1.76 €1.51
14.20%
Eggs
$4.19 €3.60
$3.22 €2.77
30.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.53 €9.06
$13.49 €11.61
-21.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.18 €9.61
$7.91 €6.81
41.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 €10.17
$15.87 €13.65
-25.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 €2.59
$2.31 €1.99
30.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$1.70 €1.46
17.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 €2.46
$2.01 €1.73
42.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.80 €3.27
$2.46 €2.12
54.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 €1.85
$1.84 €1.59
17.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 €1.30
$2.00 €1.72
-24.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.93 €1.66
-29.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 €1.66
$0.79 €0.68
144.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.48 €15.90
$6.61 €5.68
179.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.27 €13.13
$5.72 €4.92
166.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.37 €2.90
$1.37 €1.17
145.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 €3.26
$2.97 €2.56
27.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.03
$2.37 €2.04
-0.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.6 €84.8
$45.56 €39.19
116.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.07 €4.36
$4.29 €3.69
18.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 €1.65
$0.82 €0.70
134.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.17 €30.25
$18.30 €15.74
92.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 €1.70
$2.06 €1.78
-4.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.7K €35.8K
$34.3K €29.5K
21.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.0K
$39.3K €33.8K
0.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 €187
$148 €127
46.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.92 €18.85
$20.52 €17.65
6.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1 €43.96
$39.61 €34.08
29.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 €45.21
$47.85 €41.16
9.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 €16.28
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.66 €11.75
$9.18 €7.90
48.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,058 €910
$614 €528
72.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,753 €6,669
$16.0K €13.8K
-51.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 €76.8
$105 €90.0
-14.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05 €33.59
$42.06 €36.18
-7.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 €85.0
$94.0 €80.8
5.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 €91.2
$120 €103
-11.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,472 €1,266
$1,628 €1,400
-9.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 €1,091
$1,255 €1,080
1.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,348 €2,019
$3,030 €2,607
-22.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 €1,662
$2,020 €1,738
-4.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,461 €3,837
$7,800 €6,709
-42.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,082 €2,651
$4,273 €3,675
-27.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malahide
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,761 €4,956
$1,603 €1,379
259.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.53
3.81
18.90%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Malahide: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,472 in Malahide and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Malahide pays 259% 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: $106 in Malahide vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $334 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon 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
Malahide vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Malahide and Lisbon?
Malahide and Lisbon differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,506 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Malahide or Lisbon?
Malahide pays 259% 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 Malahide and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,472 in Malahide versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Malahide and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $1,058 in Malahide versus $614 in Lisbon. 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 24% higher in Malahide. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,506 in Malahide, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Malahide. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Malahide and Lisbon?
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 Malahide or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Malahide and Lisbon 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: Malahide or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Malahide. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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