🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Semenyih versus $2,243 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,350 in Semenyih versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,795 in Semenyih versus $4,387 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Semenyih costs roughly 60% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Semenyih is 32% below, Lisbon is 67% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59MYR 14.18
$15.73€13.42
-77.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.74MYR 74.0
$63.2€53.9
-70.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.69MYR 18.51
$10.32€8.80
-54.55%
Cappuccino
$3.00MYR 11.87
$2.81€2.40
6.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MYR 2.44
$2.33€1.99
-73.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 1.93
$1.51€1.29
-67.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.65MYR 18.37
$3.37€2.87
37.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.54MYR 25.84
$3.91€3.34
67.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MYR 7.42
$1.08€0.92
74.07%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94MYR 3.70
$1.75€1.49
-46.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24MYR 4.92
$1.75€1.50
-29.14%
Eggs
$1.86MYR 7.35
$3.10€2.64
-40.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.71MYR 62.0
$13.28€11.33
18.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10MYR 20.16
$7.85€6.70
-35.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.18MYR 44.16
$16.05€13.69
-30.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79MYR 14.97
$2.39€2.04
58.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52MYR 5.99
$1.72€1.47
-11.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59MYR 10.21
$1.97€1.68
31.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.01MYR 7.95
$2.55€2.17
-21.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50MYR 5.93
$1.79€1.53
-16.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74MYR 6.87
$1.97€1.68
-11.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31MYR 5.18
$1.96€1.67
-33.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53MYR 2.08
$0.84€0.71
-36.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MYR 16.44
$6.82€5.82
-39.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.46MYR 57.1
$5.85€4.99
147.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78MYR 10.96
$1.38€1.18
101.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97MYR 11.74
$2.92€2.49
1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73MYR 2.90
$2.29€1.95
-68.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.60MYR 45.82
$46.88€39.99
-75.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43MYR 5.65
$4.12€3.51
-65.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70MYR 2.75
$0.81€0.69
-13.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.05MYR 23.92
$18.94€16.16
-68.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.47MYR 1.85
$2.09€1.78
-77.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KMYR 142.3K
$35.1K€30.0K
2.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3KMYR 151.5K
$39.7K€33.9K
-3.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.73MYR 177
$150€128
-70.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89MYR 35.11
$20.49€17.48
-56.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.05MYR 123
$39.15€33.40
-20.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.40MYR 148
$49.65€42.35
-24.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.93MYR 23.41
$18.47€15.76
-67.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.85MYR 19.15
$9.20€7.84
-47.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189MYR 747
$624€533
-69.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,915MYR 27.3K
$15.9K€13.6K
-56.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.9MYR 260
$102€87.2
-35.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.02MYR 75.1
$40.88€34.87
-53.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.7MYR 287
$95.7€81.6
-23.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.87MYR 157
$121€103
-67.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386MYR 1,523
$1,653€1,410
-76.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274MYR 1,083
$1,233€1,051
-77.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$647MYR 2,556
$3,043€2,596
-78.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466MYR 1,842
$2,059€1,756
-77.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,798MYR 7,103
$7,879€6,720
-77.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$901MYR 3,560
$4,303€3,671
-79.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MYR 2,676
$1,566€1,336
-56.75%
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 Semenyih: April 21, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Semenyih and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 131% 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 in Semenyih vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $270 per month, with Semenyih 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
Semenyih vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Semenyih and Lisbon?
Semenyih and Lisbon differ by about 148% in total monthly costs ($905 vs $2,243 including rent). Semenyih 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 131% 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 Semenyih and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $386 in Semenyih versus $1,653 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 Semenyih and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $189 in Semenyih versus $624 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 2% 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 $905 in Semenyih versus $2,243 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Semenyih but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Semenyih the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Semenyih 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 Semenyih or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Semenyih 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: Semenyih or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Semenyih gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.