🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Putrajaya versus $2,217 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,196 in Putrajaya versus $3,245 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,604 in Putrajaya versus $4,272 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 41% below, Lisbon is 66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48MYR 14.16
$15.78€13.59
-77.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.95MYR 77.0
$62.5€53.8
-69.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.72MYR 19.20
$10.54€9.07
-55.22%
Cappuccino
$2.93MYR 11.90
$2.77€2.38
5.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76MYR 3.08
$2.28€1.97
-66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MYR 1.52
$1.55€1.33
-76.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.64MYR 14.78
$3.55€3.05
2.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57MYR 18.56
$3.98€3.43
14.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MYR 6.71
$1.08€0.93
52.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84MYR 3.43
$1.77€1.52
-52.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25MYR 5.07
$1.77€1.52
-29.38%
Eggs
$1.81MYR 7.34
$3.12€2.69
-41.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.68MYR 27.17
$13.34€11.49
-49.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.27MYR 17.37
$7.99€6.88
-46.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.55MYR 38.82
$15.92€13.70
-40.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15MYR 12.79
$2.28€1.97
38.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33MYR 5.42
$1.64€1.42
-18.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21MYR 13.05
$1.98€1.70
62.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MYR 6.62
$2.45€2.11
-33.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51MYR 6.14
$1.77€1.52
-14.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75MYR 7.11
$1.97€1.69
-11.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63MYR 6.64
$1.97€1.70
-17.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53MYR 2.14
$0.80€0.69
-33.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MYR 17.14
$6.54€5.63
-35.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.31MYR 58.2
$5.75€4.95
148.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.88MYR 11.69
$1.32€1.13
118.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97MYR 12.06
$2.99€2.57
-0.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74MYR 3.01
$2.34€2.01
-68.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.75MYR 47.78
$45.85€39.48
-74.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92MYR 3.74
$4.26€3.66
-78.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99MYR 4.03
$0.84€0.73
17.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MYR 24.27
$18.86€16.24
-68.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 2.02
$2.07€1.78
-75.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KMYR 143.5K
$35.2K€30.3K
0.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0KMYR 154.5K
$38.6K€33.2K
-1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.46MYR 189
$151€130
-69.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96MYR 36.43
$20.91€18.00
-57.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.71MYR 92.3
$39.54€34.05
-42.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.91MYR 154
$48.39€41.67
-21.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.80MYR 35.79
$18.61€16.02
-52.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81MYR 19.57
$9.04€7.79
-46.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$184MYR 749
$610€525
-69.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,038MYR 28.6K
$16.3K€14.0K
-56.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0MYR 268
$101€87.2
-34.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.54MYR 75.4
$40.58€34.94
-54.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6MYR 299
$93.0€80.1
-20.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.41MYR 164
$119€102
-65.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340MYR 1,381
$1,603€1,380
-78.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$233MYR 947
$1,239€1,067
-81.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616MYR 2,505
$3,019€2,599
-79.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376MYR 1,528
$2,061€1,775
-81.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,062MYR 8,380
$7,981€6,872
-74.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,462MYR 5,944
$4,533€3,903
-67.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,230MYR 4,999
$1,628€1,402
-24.46%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Putrajaya and $1,603 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 32% 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 $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $268 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 181% in total monthly costs ($788 vs $2,217 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 32% 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: $340 in Putrajaya versus $1,603 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 $184 in Putrajaya versus $610 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 21% 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 $788 in Putrajaya versus $2,217 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 181% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.