🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $796 in Putrajaya versus $2,280 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,205 in Putrajaya versus $3,294 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,614 in Putrajaya versus $4,307 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Putrajaya costs roughly 65% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Putrajaya is 40% below, Lisbon is 71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56MYR 14.53
$15.75€13.67
-77.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.70MYR 76.4
$63.5€55.1
-70.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58MYR 18.70
$10.45€9.07
-56.17%
Cappuccino
$2.86MYR 11.69
$2.91€2.53
-1.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80MYR 3.26
$2.29€1.99
-65.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MYR 1.52
$1.50€1.30
-75.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.45MYR 14.08
$3.56€3.09
-3.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39MYR 17.94
$3.96€3.44
10.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67MYR 6.82
$1.08€0.94
54.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83MYR 3.41
$1.76€1.53
-52.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28MYR 5.25
$1.70€1.47
-24.71%
Eggs
$1.88MYR 7.68
$3.25€2.82
-42.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.57MYR 26.81
$13.25€11.49
-50.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31MYR 17.60
$7.70€6.68
-44.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.23MYR 37.67
$15.77€13.68
-41.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21MYR 13.12
$2.28€1.98
40.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.64
$1.66€1.44
-16.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11MYR 12.69
$2.02€1.75
53.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55MYR 6.32
$2.47€2.15
-37.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52MYR 6.19
$1.79€1.55
-15.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73MYR 7.07
$2.07€1.79
-16.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66MYR 6.77
$1.97€1.71
-15.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.12
$0.83€0.72
-37.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MYR 17.43
$6.55€5.69
-34.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.30MYR 54.3
$5.57€4.83
138.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84MYR 11.58
$1.33€1.15
113.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87MYR 11.73
$3.01€2.61
-4.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72MYR 2.94
$2.27€1.97
-68.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.84MYR 48.33
$46.35€40.21
-74.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MYR 3.99
$4.23€3.67
-76.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98MYR 4.01
$0.85€0.74
15.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.02MYR 24.57
$18.83€16.33
-68.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46MYR 1.89
$2.02€1.75
-77.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KMYR 145.7K
$35.0K€30.3K
2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9KMYR 154.8K
$39.6K€34.4K
-4.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.30MYR 185
$148€128
-69.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.28MYR 37.88
$20.52€17.80
-54.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.62MYR 92.4
$39.52€34.29
-42.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.22MYR 156
$48.17€41.79
-20.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.01MYR 36.80
$18.39€15.95
-51.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09MYR 20.78
$9.10€7.89
-44.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186MYR 759
$615€533
-69.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,832MYR 27.9K
$16.3K€14.1K
-58.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0MYR 269
$102€88.1
-35.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.02MYR 77.6
$42.09€36.51
-54.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.8MYR 301
$92.3€80.1
-20.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.92MYR 163
$122€106
-67.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$342MYR 1,396
$1,612€1,398
-78.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235MYR 959
$1,254€1,088
-81.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$620MYR 2,533
$3,069€2,663
-79.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380MYR 1,552
$2,037€1,767
-81.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,685MYR 11.0K
$7,751€6,724
-65.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,803MYR 7,364
$4,286€3,718
-57.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Putrajaya
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,041MYR 4,251
$1,602€1,390
-35.01%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $342 in Putrajaya and $1,612 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 54% 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 $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $267 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 in Lisbon?
Putrajaya and Lisbon differ by about 187% in total monthly costs ($796 vs $2,280 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, salaries run 54% 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 Putrajaya and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $342 in Putrajaya versus $1,612 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 $186 in Putrajaya versus $615 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 $796 in Putrajaya versus $2,280 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 187% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.