๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $3,166 in Fort Lee, NJ.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $5,152 in Fort Lee, NJ.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $7,139 in Fort Lee, NJ.
๐Living in Lisbon costs roughly 29% less than in Fort Lee, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon67% above, Fort Lee, NJ136% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.42
$19.70$19.70
-20.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$101$101
-37.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.80
$12.74$12.74
-19.00%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$5.31$5.31
-47.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$2.40$2.40
-2.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$1.28$1.28
17.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$7.07$7.07
-52.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$9.18$9.18
-57.41%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$1.34$1.34
-19.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$3.28$3.28
-46.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$4.29$4.29
-59.21%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.64
$4.25$4.25
-27.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.33
$21.43$21.43
-38.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.70
$11.73$11.73
-33.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.69
$17.28$17.28
-7.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$4.89$4.89
-51.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$1.57$1.57
9.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$4.02$4.02
-51.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$4.08$4.08
-37.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$2.87$2.87
-37.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$3.81$3.81
-48.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$2.48$2.48
-20.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.71
$2.70$2.70
-68.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$12.02$12.02
-43.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ4.99
$12.11$12.11
-51.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.75$1.75
-21.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.49
$6.10$6.10
-52.13%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.95
$3.77$3.77
-39.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ39.99
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.51
$3.08$3.08
33.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$2.07$2.07
-60.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.16
$23.94$23.94
-20.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$0.93$0.93
124.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$29.8K$29.8K
17.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
$25.2K$25.2K
57.57%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$127$127
17.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$45.18$45.18
-54.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.40
$63.8$63.8
-38.67%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.35
$125$125
-60.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.84
$15.15$15.15
-39.27%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ533
$2,018$2,018
-69.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$24.1K$24.1K
-33.99%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.2
$73.6$73.6
38.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.87
$61.1$61.1
-33.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.6
$70.3$70.3
36.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ103
$101$101
19.59%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,410
$2,252$2,252
-26.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,051
$1,855$1,855
-33.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,596
$4,689$4,689
-35.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,756
$3,838$3,838
-46.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,720
$4,388$4,388
79.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,671
$3,733$3,733
15.27%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,336
$6,761$6,761
-76.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.35
-40.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $2,252 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐFort Lee, NJ pays 332% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $101 in Fort Lee, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $429 per month, with Lisbon 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
Lisbon vs Fort Lee, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Fort Lee, NJ?
Lisbon wins on cost โ living expenses run 41% lower than in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or Fort Lee, NJ?
On paper, Fort Lee, NJ earns 332% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon vs Fort Lee, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $2,252 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lisbon and Fort Lee, NJ?
Childcare runs $624 in Lisbon versus $2,018 in Fort Lee, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon vs Fort Lee, NJ?
Dining out is cheaper in Lisbon โ a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $101 in Fort Lee, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Fort Lee, NJ?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Fort Lee, NJ?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $2,243 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Fort Lee, NJ?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Fort Lee, NJ are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 41% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.