Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $480 in Malang versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $755 in Malang versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,030 in Malang versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Malang costs roughly 78% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Malang is 64% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.6K
$15.91€13.69
-92.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.35Rp 220.5K
$64.8€55.7
-80.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.06Rp 54.6K
$10.51€9.04
-70.88%
Cappuccino
$1.41Rp 25.1K
$2.87€2.47
-50.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$2.24€1.93
-74.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,922
$1.50€1.29
-85.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40Rp 42.9K
$3.49€3.00
-31.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10Rp 55.3K
$3.88€3.34
-20.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.2K
$1.14€0.98
-0.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 27.1K
$1.75€1.51
-13.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$1.76€1.51
-50.57%
Eggs
$1.45Rp 25.9K
$3.22€2.77
-54.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.47Rp 115.5K
$13.49€11.61
-52.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18Rp 56.7K
$7.91€6.81
-59.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.16Rp 127.9K
$15.87€13.65
-54.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.6K
$2.31€1.99
0.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.9K
$1.70€1.46
-11.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75Rp 31.3K
$2.01€1.73
-12.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45Rp 25.8K
$2.46€2.12
-41.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.5K
$1.84€1.59
-28.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.6K
$2.00€1.72
-11.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51Rp 9,035
$1.93€1.66
-73.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,301
$0.79€0.68
-48.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47Rp 44.1K
$6.61€5.68
-62.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.73Rp 227.3K
$5.72€4.92
122.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 32.6K
$1.37€1.17
33.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 59.2K
$2.97€2.56
11.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.62Rp 11.1K
$2.37€2.04
-73.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.23Rp 111.2K
$45.56€39.19
-86.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,480
$4.29€3.69
-89.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,614
$0.82€0.70
-62.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26Rp 111.9K
$18.30€15.74
-65.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$2.06€1.78
-63.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KRp 367.4M
$34.3K€29.5K
-39.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRp 484.9M
$39.3K€33.8K
-30.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.63Rp 600.6K
$148€127
-77.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.55Rp 45.5K
$20.52€17.65
-87.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.60Rp 350.0K
$39.61€34.08
-50.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.59Rp 260.6K
$47.85€41.16
-69.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.90Rp 87.5K
$18.92€16.28
-74.10%
Cinema Ticket
$2.17Rp 38.7K
$9.18€7.90
-76.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.05Rp 608.1K
$614€528
-94.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,339Rp 166.8M
$16.0K€13.8K
-41.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.84Rp 765.0K
$105€90.0
-59.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.31Rp 541.2K
$42.06€36.18
-27.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.4Rp 1.1M
$94.0€80.8
-35.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.5M
$120€103
-31.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$1,628€1,400
-90.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$50.0Rp 893.4K
$1,255€1,080
-96.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276Rp 4.9M
$3,030€2,607
-90.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.2Rp 1.6M
$2,020€1,738
-95.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198Rp 3.5M
$1,603€1,379
-87.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
3.81
4.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malang: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $160 in Malang and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 709% 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: $12.00 in Malang vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $269 per month, with Malang 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
Malang vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Malang and Lisbon?
Malang and Lisbon differ by about 360% in total monthly costs ($480 vs $2,210 including rent). Malang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 709% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Malang and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $160 in Malang 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 Malang and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $34.05 in Malang 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 47% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $480 in Malang versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malang but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Malang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Malang 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 Malang or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Malang 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: Malang or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Malang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 360% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.