🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,126 in Fort Lee, NJ.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $5,068 in Fort Lee, NJ.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $7,011 in Fort Lee, NJ.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 29% less than in Fort Lee, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Fort Lee, NJ133% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.81
$20.04$20.04
-20.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€56.2
$100$100
-35.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.12
$12.47$12.47
-15.72%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.49
$5.51$5.51
-47.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.95
$2.47$2.47
-9.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$1.27$1.27
18.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.03
$6.97$6.97
-49.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.37
$8.75$8.75
-55.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.99
$1.35$1.35
-15.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$3.24$3.24
-45.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.52
$4.30$4.30
-59.07%
Eggs
$3.22€2.79
$4.21$4.21
-23.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.71
$21.76$21.76
-38.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.87
$12.01$12.01
-34.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.77
$17.14$17.14
-7.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€2.00
$4.84$4.84
-52.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.56$1.56
8.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$3.98$3.98
-49.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.13
$4.07$4.07
-39.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$2.91$2.91
-36.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.74
$3.92$3.92
-48.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.67
$2.47$2.47
-21.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$2.61$2.61
-69.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.73
$11.99$11.99
-44.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.97
$12.10$12.10
-52.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.75$1.75
-21.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.58
$6.06$6.06
-50.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.06
$3.97$3.97
-40.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.53
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$3.09$3.09
38.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.71
$2.00$2.00
-59.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.88
$24.35$24.35
-24.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.79
$0.88$0.88
134.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.7K
$30.2K$30.2K
13.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€34.1K
$25.8K$25.8K
52.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$124$124
18.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.80
$44.70$44.70
-54.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.37
$65.2$65.2
-39.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.51
$124$124
-61.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.42
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.97
$14.73$14.73
-37.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€533
$1,998$1,998
-69.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.9K
$24.0K$24.0K
-33.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.8
$76.0$76.0
37.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.49
$61.1$61.1
-31.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.5
$69.2$69.2
35.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$98.7$98.7
21.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,412
$2,202$2,202
-26.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,089
$1,806$1,806
-30.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,629
$4,647$4,647
-34.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,753
$3,868$3,868
-47.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,767
$4,326$4,326
80.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,707
$3,776$3,776
13.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,391
$6,639$6,639
-75.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.35
-40.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $2,202 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fort Lee, NJ pays 314% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $100 in Fort Lee, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 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 – 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 314% 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: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $2,202 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 $614 in Lisbon versus $1,998 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 – a meal for two runs $65.0 versus $100 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 – similar infrastructure at $2,210 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 – 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.