Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $482 in Malang versus $2,268 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Malang versus $3,348 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $990 in Malang versus $4,429 in Lisbon.

Living in Malang costs roughly 79% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Malang is 65% below, Lisbon is 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.10 Rp 19.3K
$17.55 €15.12
-93.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.41 Rp 200.8K
$64.5 €55.6
-82.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.85 Rp 50.2K
$11.65 €10.04
-75.54%
Cappuccino
$1.35 Rp 23.7K
$3.26 €2.81
-58.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 Rp 10.8K
$2.49 €2.15
-75.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,241
$1.67 €1.44
-85.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 Rp 38.6K
$3.47 €2.99
-36.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 Rp 72.8K
$3.58 €3.08
15.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 Rp 16.7K
$1.18 €1.02
-19.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 Rp 19.4K
$1.95 €1.68
-43.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$1.56 €1.35
-50.00%
Eggs
$1.20 Rp 21.1K
$4.01 €3.46
-70.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.86 Rp 103.1K
$13.27 €11.44
-55.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 Rp 55.2K
$8.42 €7.26
-62.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.15 Rp 125.9K
$18.23 €15.72
-60.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 Rp 36.0K
$2.32 €2.00
-12.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 23.1K
$1.73 €1.49
-24.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$1.93 €1.67
-19.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 Rp 25.1K
$2.64 €2.27
-46.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 22.6K
$1.90 €1.64
-32.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.1K
$2.11 €1.82
-8.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 Rp 9,009
$1.44 €1.24
-64.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,178
$0.80 €0.69
-48.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74 Rp 48.3K
$7.01 €6.04
-60.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.83 Rp 226.0K
$5.92 €5.11
116.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$1.36 €1.18
28.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 Rp 50.9K
$2.15 €1.85
34.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 Rp 10.6K
$2.38 €2.05
-74.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.78 Rp 101.7K
$46.22 €39.85
-87.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,220
$4.19 €3.61
-88.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 Rp 7,222
$1.10 €0.95
-62.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 Rp 100.1K
$17.26 €14.88
-67.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 Rp 11.2K
$2.25 €1.94
-72.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 457.1M
$34.5K €29.7K
-24.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K Rp 486.0M
$41.6K €35.9K
-33.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$31.44 Rp 553.5K
$171 €147
-81.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.39 Rp 42.2K
$19.01 €16.38
-87.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.73 Rp 347.3K
$34.28 €29.55
-42.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.60 Rp 257.0K
$49.65 €42.80
-70.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.50 Rp 79.2K
$19.51 €16.81
-76.93%
Cinema Ticket
$2.02 Rp 35.6K
$10.10 €8.71
-80.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$31.03 Rp 546.3K
$699 €603
-95.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,700 Rp 170.8M
$17.8K €15.3K
-45.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5 Rp 994.7K
$105 €90.2
-45.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.81 Rp 401.7K
$47.97 €41.35
-52.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.3 Rp 937.7K
$102 €87.8
-47.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.37 Rp 640.2K
$128 €111
-71.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$142 Rp 2.5M
$1,661 €1,432
-91.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.0 Rp 1.7M
$1,228 €1,059
-92.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 Rp 3.5M
$2,915 €2,513
-93.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.7M
$2,023 €1,744
-92.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$8,129 €7,007
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,635 €3,996
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$201 Rp 3.5M
$1,619 €1,396
-87.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
3.78
5.82%

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

Last update for Malang: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $142 in Malang and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 707% 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: $11.00 in Malang vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $281 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 in Lisbon?
Malang and Lisbon differ by about 371% in total monthly costs ($482 vs $2,268 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, salaries run 707% lower in Lisbon. 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 in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $142 in Malang versus $1,661 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 $31.03 in Malang versus $699 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 66% 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 $482 in Malang versus $2,268 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 371% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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