🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $976 in Semenyih versus $2,268 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Semenyih versus $3,348 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,891 in Semenyih versus $4,429 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Semenyih costs roughly 57% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Semenyih is 29% below, Lisbon is 64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.80MYR 15.43
$17.55€15.09
-78.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.27MYR 86.3
$64.5€55.5
-67.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.10MYR 20.69
$11.65€10.01
-56.22%
Cappuccino
$2.97MYR 12.04
$3.26€2.80
-8.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65MYR 2.62
$2.49€2.14
-73.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.11
$1.67€1.44
-68.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.52MYR 18.36
$3.47€2.99
30.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.34MYR 25.73
$3.58€3.07
77.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MYR 6.82
$1.18€1.02
42.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03MYR 4.16
$1.95€1.67
-47.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46MYR 5.93
$1.56€1.34
-6.41%
Eggs
$1.76MYR 7.15
$4.01€3.45
-56.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.12MYR 73.5
$13.27€11.41
36.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.53MYR 18.38
$8.42€7.24
-46.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MYR 43.52
$18.23€15.68
-41.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43MYR 13.91
$2.32€2.00
47.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76MYR 7.15
$1.73€1.49
1.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.93MYR 15.95
$1.93€1.66
103.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MYR 6.62
$2.64€2.27
-38.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49MYR 6.03
$1.90€1.63
-21.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75MYR 7.09
$2.11€1.82
-17.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38MYR 5.59
$1.44€1.24
-4.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MYR 2.25
$0.80€0.69
-31.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23MYR 17.17
$7.01€6.03
-39.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.03MYR 56.9
$5.92€5.09
136.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90MYR 11.75
$1.36€1.17
113.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15MYR 12.79
$2.15€1.85
46.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75MYR 3.05
$2.38€2.05
-68.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.35MYR 50.1
$46.22€39.74
-73.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45MYR 5.87
$4.19€3.60
-65.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77MYR 3.11
$1.10€0.94
-30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.17MYR 41.27
$17.26€14.84
-41.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.53MYR 2.14
$2.25€1.93
-76.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3KMYR 171.4K
$34.5K€29.6K
22.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4KMYR 147.8K
$41.6K€35.8K
-12.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.9MYR 218
$171€147
-68.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.21MYR 45.48
$19.01€16.34
-41.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.02MYR 118
$34.28€29.48
-15.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.96MYR 166
$49.65€42.69
-17.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53MYR 26.49
$19.51€16.77
-66.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81MYR 19.52
$10.10€8.68
-52.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164MYR 664
$699€601
-76.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,531MYR 18.4K
$17.8K€15.3K
-74.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.9MYR 271
$105€89.9
-36.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.58MYR 67.3
$47.97€41.24
-65.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.9MYR 336
$102€87.6
-18.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.98MYR 170
$128€110
-67.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428MYR 1,738
$1,661€1,428
-74.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329MYR 1,335
$1,228€1,056
-73.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706MYR 2,866
$2,915€2,506
-75.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503MYR 2,042
$2,023€1,740
-75.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,049MYR 8,312
$8,129€6,989
-74.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,144MYR 4,641
$4,635€3,985
-75.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Semenyih
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665MYR 2,698
$1,619€1,392
-58.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
3.78
7.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Semenyih: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $428 in Semenyih and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 143% 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: $21.00 in Semenyih vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $281 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 in Lisbon?
Semenyih and Lisbon differ by about 132% in total monthly costs ($976 vs $2,268 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, salaries run 143% 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 Semenyih and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $428 in Semenyih 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 Semenyih and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $164 in Semenyih 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 4% 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 $976 in Semenyih versus $2,268 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 132% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.