🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $813 in Putrajaya versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Putrajaya versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Putrajaya versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Putrajaya costs roughly 64% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Putrajaya is 39% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61MYR 14.24
$16.17€13.84
-77.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.11MYR 75.5
$64.6€55.3
-70.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58MYR 18.11
$10.38€8.88
-55.88%
Cappuccino
$3.02MYR 11.94
$2.77€2.37
9.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76MYR 2.99
$2.25€1.92
-66.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MYR 1.49
$1.57€1.35
-75.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56MYR 14.07
$3.49€2.99
2.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MYR 17.64
$4.00€3.43
11.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MYR 6.52
$1.08€0.93
52.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80MYR 3.15
$1.74€1.49
-54.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24MYR 4.91
$1.74€1.49
-28.74%
Eggs
$1.80MYR 7.11
$3.18€2.72
-43.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.41MYR 25.33
$13.43€11.50
-52.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.43MYR 17.48
$7.99€6.84
-44.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.28MYR 36.67
$16.09€13.77
-42.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16MYR 12.48
$2.28€1.95
38.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34MYR 5.29
$1.72€1.48
-22.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.14MYR 12.42
$1.94€1.66
61.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61MYR 6.38
$2.54€2.18
-36.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50MYR 5.94
$1.83€1.57
-18.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80MYR 7.11
$2.04€1.75
-11.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64MYR 6.47
$1.98€1.69
-17.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MYR 2.23
$0.85€0.73
-34.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MYR 16.43
$6.85€5.87
-39.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.83MYR 58.6
$5.78€4.94
156.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85MYR 11.25
$1.37€1.18
108.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MYR 11.53
$2.90€2.48
0.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MYR 2.71
$2.28€1.95
-69.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.86MYR 46.86
$46.84€40.10
-74.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.90MYR 3.56
$4.08€3.49
-77.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02MYR 4.05
$0.82€0.70
24.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.76MYR 22.73
$18.27€15.64
-68.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 1.98
$2.01€1.72
-75.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KMYR 141.7K
$35.3K€30.2K
1.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0KMYR 149.9K
$38.5K€32.9K
-1.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.05MYR 182
$145€124
-68.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.11MYR 36.00
$20.96€17.94
-56.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53MYR 89.0
$40.05€34.29
-43.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.33MYR 147
$48.79€41.76
-23.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.78MYR 34.70
$18.69€16.00
-53.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MYR 19.33
$9.06€7.76
-46.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187MYR 740
$607€519
-69.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,902MYR 27.3K
$16.3K€14.0K
-57.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.5MYR 259
$105€89.6
-37.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.86MYR 74.5
$40.95€35.06
-53.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7MYR 291
$93.6€80.1
-21.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.66MYR 161
$119€101
-65.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344MYR 1,357
$1,604€1,373
-78.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236MYR 932
$1,236€1,058
-80.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$640MYR 2,528
$3,046€2,607
-78.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373MYR 1,474
$2,057€1,761
-81.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,097MYR 8,282
$7,709€6,599
-72.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,496MYR 5,908
$4,266€3,652
-64.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,283MYR 5,068
$1,584€1,356
-19.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.07
3.81
6.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Putrajaya: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $344 in Putrajaya and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 23% 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: $19.00 in Putrajaya vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $271 per month, with Putrajaya 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
Putrajaya vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Putrajaya and Lisbon?
Putrajaya and Lisbon differ by about 174% in total monthly costs ($813 vs $2,227 including rent). Putrajaya 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 23% 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 Putrajaya and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $344 in Putrajaya versus $1,604 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 Putrajaya and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $187 in Putrajaya versus $607 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 22% 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 $813 in Putrajaya versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Putrajaya but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Putrajaya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Putrajaya 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 Putrajaya or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Putrajaya 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: Putrajaya or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Putrajaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 174% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.