Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cabo Frio Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Cabo Frio

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $825 in Cabo Frio, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $1,305 in Cabo Frio, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $1,784 in Cabo Frio, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 170% more than Cabo Frio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lisbon sits 66% above the global median, while Cabo Frio is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$7.28 R$36.34
122.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$28.95 R$144
123.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$6.11 R$30.51
69.89%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$1.95 R$9.73
42.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$1.32 R$6.57
70.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$0.57 R$2.83
175.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$1.82 R$9.10
91.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$2.78 R$13.88
43.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.13 R$5.62
-4.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.76 R$8.79
-1.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$1.42 R$7.10
22.54%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$1.96 R$9.80
62.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$7.79 R$38.87
72.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$3.63 R$18.11
120.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$7.91 R$39.48
103.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$2.30 R$11.45
-0.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.63 R$8.12
5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$1.51 R$7.55
28.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$1.56 R$7.79
62.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.29 R$6.43
41.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.16 R$5.80
75.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$0.68 R$3.40
191.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$0.56 R$2.81
51.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$1.96 R$9.77
249.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$7.98 R$39.81
-27.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.21 R$6.04
13.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$2.05 R$10.23
41.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$1.13 R$5.63
101.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$38.22 R$191
22.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$1.12 R$5.59
264.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$0.69 R$3.45
18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$7.39 R$36.88
147.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.12 R$5.56
79.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$20.2K R$101.0K
74.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$27.1K R$135.4K
41.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$101 R$505
43.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$12.15 R$60.6
72.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$18.81 R$93.9
112.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$22.65 R$113
115.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$21.66 R$108
-13.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$6.62 R$33.04
36.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$546 R$2,727
10.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$11.6K R$57.8K
41.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$44.47 R$222
135.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$40.94 R$204
0.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$76.9 R$383
21.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$62.0 R$310
91.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$318 R$1,588
403.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$220 R$1,096
462.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$583 R$2,907
422.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$421 R$2,103
388.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Cabo Frio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$280 R$1,398
465.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.33
-66.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Cabo Frio: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $318 in Cabo Frio. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 465% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $29.00 in Cabo Frio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $185 – making Cabo Frio the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Lisbon vs Cabo Frio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabo Frio cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 170%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $1,238 in Cabo Frio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabo Frio, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon vs Cabo Frio?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,227 in Lisbon and $825 in Cabo Frio. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Cabo Frio. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Cabo Frio?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cabo Frio, where all-in costs run around $825, than in Lisbon at $2,227. In Cabo Frio it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Cabo Frio more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cabo Frio – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Cabo Frio?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cabo Frio. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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