🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $796 in Seremban versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,280 in Seremban versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,763 in Seremban versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Seremban costs roughly 66% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Seremban is 42% below, Lisbon is 69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75MYR 15.15
$17.30€14.89
-78.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.09MYR 89.3
$63.3€54.4
-65.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.81MYR 15.41
$11.39€9.80
-66.55%
Cappuccino
$2.88MYR 11.63
$3.19€2.75
-9.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84MYR 3.39
$2.45€2.10
-65.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46MYR 1.84
$1.76€1.52
-73.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.66MYR 14.78
$3.59€3.09
1.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MYR 19.62
$3.39€2.92
43.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77MYR 7.15
$1.24€1.06
42.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07MYR 4.33
$1.98€1.71
-45.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50MYR 6.08
$1.52€1.31
-1.32%
Eggs
$1.70MYR 6.89
$4.04€3.48
-57.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.50MYR 74.8
$13.54€11.65
36.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.50MYR 18.17
$8.39€7.22
-46.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.36MYR 41.85
$18.25€15.70
-43.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44MYR 13.89
$2.29€1.97
50.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31MYR 5.28
$1.74€1.50
-24.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.75MYR 19.18
$1.86€1.60
155.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.60
$2.63€2.26
-47.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04MYR 4.20
$1.92€1.65
-45.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20MYR 4.86
$2.09€1.80
-42.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MYR 4.96
$1.44€1.24
-14.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.08
$0.84€0.72
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43MYR 17.89
$6.78€5.83
-34.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37MYR 58.1
$5.71€4.91
151.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95MYR 11.94
$1.38€1.18
113.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12MYR 12.61
$2.22€1.91
40.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25MYR 5.05
$2.40€2.06
-47.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.58MYR 99.3
$46.78€40.25
-47.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71MYR 2.85
$4.17€3.59
-82.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71MYR 2.85
$1.14€0.98
-37.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.10MYR 40.81
$17.68€15.21
-42.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61MYR 2.45
$2.32€2.00
-73.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8KMYR 168.9K
$35.3K€30.4K
18.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KMYR 143.5K
$41.4K€35.7K
-14.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.50MYR 184
$170€147
-73.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.82MYR 43.74
$19.34€16.64
-44.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.27MYR 118
$33.64€28.95
-12.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.3MYR 268
$48.10€41.39
37.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.90€17.12
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.33MYR 17.51
$9.92€8.54
-56.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$184MYR 745
$717€617
-74.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,510MYR 18.2K
$17.5K€15.0K
-74.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.68MYR 201
$105€90.2
-52.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.48MYR 147
$46.95€40.40
-22.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.1MYR 328
$103€89.0
-21.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7MYR 354
$124€107
-29.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$184MYR 744
$1,677€1,443
-89.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$122MYR 491
$1,271€1,094
-90.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$306MYR 1,236
$2,985€2,568
-89.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254MYR 1,028
$1,992€1,715
-87.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,826€6,734
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,658€4,008
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seremban
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$799MYR 3,230
$1,583€1,362
-49.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
3.79
7.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Seremban: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $184 in Seremban and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 98% 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: $22.00 in Seremban vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $283 per month, with Seremban 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
Seremban vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Seremban and in Lisbon?
Seremban and Lisbon differ by about 191% in total monthly costs ($796 vs $2,316 including rent). Seremban 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 98% 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 Seremban and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $184 in Seremban versus $1,677 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 Seremban and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $184 in Seremban versus $717 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 6% 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 Seremban versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Seremban but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Seremban the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Seremban 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 Seremban or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Seremban 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: Seremban or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Seremban gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.