Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Fort Lee, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Fort Lee, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $3,166 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $5,152 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $7,139 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: Lisbon 67% above, Fort Lee, NJ 136% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73 โ‚ฌ13.42
$19.70 $19.70
-20.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2 โ‚ฌ53.9
$101 $101
-37.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 โ‚ฌ8.80
$12.74 $12.74
-19.00%
Cappuccino
$2.81 โ‚ฌ2.40
$5.31 $5.31
-47.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 โ‚ฌ1.99
$2.40 $2.40
-2.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 โ‚ฌ1.29
$1.28 $1.28
17.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.37 โ‚ฌ2.87
$7.07 $7.07
-52.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 โ‚ฌ3.34
$9.18 $9.18
-57.41%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 โ‚ฌ0.92
$1.34 $1.34
-19.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.49
$3.28 $3.28
-46.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 โ‚ฌ1.50
$4.29 $4.29
-59.21%
Eggs
$3.10 โ‚ฌ2.64
$4.25 $4.25
-27.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.28 โ‚ฌ11.33
$21.43 $21.43
-38.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.85 โ‚ฌ6.70
$11.73 $11.73
-33.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.05 โ‚ฌ13.69
$17.28 $17.28
-7.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 โ‚ฌ2.04
$4.89 $4.89
-51.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.47
$1.57 $1.57
9.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
$4.02 $4.02
-51.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 โ‚ฌ2.17
$4.08 $4.08
-37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.53
$2.87 $2.87
-37.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 โ‚ฌ1.68
$3.81 $3.81
-48.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 โ‚ฌ1.67
$2.48 $2.48
-20.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 โ‚ฌ0.71
$2.70 $2.70
-68.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 โ‚ฌ5.82
$12.02 $12.02
-43.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.85 โ‚ฌ4.99
$12.11 $12.11
-51.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.18
$1.75 $1.75
-21.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 โ‚ฌ2.49
$6.10 $6.10
-52.13%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 โ‚ฌ1.95
$3.77 $3.77
-39.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.88 โ‚ฌ39.99
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 โ‚ฌ3.51
$3.08 $3.08
33.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 โ‚ฌ0.69
$2.07 $2.07
-60.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.94 โ‚ฌ16.16
$23.94 $23.94
-20.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.78
$0.93 $0.93
124.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K โ‚ฌ30.0K
$29.8K $29.8K
17.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K โ‚ฌ33.9K
$25.2K $25.2K
57.57%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 โ‚ฌ128
$127 $127
17.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49 โ‚ฌ17.48
$45.18 $45.18
-54.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15 โ‚ฌ33.40
$63.8 $63.8
-38.67%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 โ‚ฌ42.35
$125 $125
-60.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47 โ‚ฌ15.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20 โ‚ฌ7.84
$15.15 $15.15
-39.27%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$624 โ‚ฌ533
$2,018 $2,018
-69.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K โ‚ฌ13.6K
$24.1K $24.1K
-33.99%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 โ‚ฌ87.2
$73.6 $73.6
38.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88 โ‚ฌ34.87
$61.1 $61.1
-33.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 โ‚ฌ81.6
$70.3 $70.3
36.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 โ‚ฌ103
$101 $101
19.59%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 โ‚ฌ1,410
$2,252 $2,252
-26.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 โ‚ฌ1,051
$1,855 $1,855
-33.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,043 โ‚ฌ2,596
$4,689 $4,689
-35.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 โ‚ฌ1,756
$3,838 $3,838
-46.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,879 โ‚ฌ6,720
$4,388 $4,388
79.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,303 โ‚ฌ3,671
$3,733 $3,733
15.27%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Fort Lee, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,566 โ‚ฌ1,336
$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

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.

Fort 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.

Dining 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.

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