Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Jersey City, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Jersey City, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $3,928 in Jersey City, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $5,516 in Jersey City, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $7,104 in Jersey City, NJ.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 43% less than in Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Jersey City, NJ 193% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 €13.81

$19.95 $19.95

-18.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 €55.1

$99.2 $99.2

-34.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.38 €8.86

$14.10 $14.10

-26.38%

Cappuccino

$2.77 €2.37

$5.46 $5.46

-49.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.92

$2.45 $2.45

-8.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 €1.34

$1.87 $1.87

-16.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 €2.98

$6.93 $6.93

-49.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 €3.42

$8.97 $8.97

-55.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.29 $1.29

-16.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 €1.49

$3.79 $3.79

-54.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 €1.48

$5.36 $5.36

-67.54%

Eggs

$3.18 €2.71

$4.92 $4.92

-35.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 €11.47

$21.58 $21.58

-37.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.99 €6.83

$12.03 $12.03

-33.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 €13.74

$16.91 $16.91

-4.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 €1.95

$5.02 $5.02

-54.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 €1.47

$1.77 $1.77

-2.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 €1.66

$4.07 $4.07

-52.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 €2.17

$4.23 $4.23

-39.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 €1.56

$2.89 $2.89

-36.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 €1.74

$3.77 $3.77

-45.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 €1.69

$2.40 $2.40

-17.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.73

$2.66 $2.66

-68.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.85 €5.85

$12.09 $12.09

-43.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 €4.93

$15.12 $15.12

-61.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 €1.17

$1.69 $1.69

-18.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 €2.48

$6.16 $6.16

-52.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.95

$2.72 $2.72

-16.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.84 €40.00

$93.4 $93.4

-49.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 €3.48

$3.02 $3.02

35.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 €0.70

$1.78 $1.78

-53.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.27 €15.60

$24.43 $24.43

-25.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.01 €1.71

$0.85 $0.85

136.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.3K €30.1K

$34.8K $34.8K

1.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$38.5K €32.9K

$24.9K $24.9K

54.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$145 €124

$125 $125

16.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.96 €17.90

$44.45 $44.45

-52.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.05 €34.21

$65.0 $65.0

-38.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.79 €41.66

$80.2 $80.2

-39.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 €15.97

$43.94 $43.94

-57.46%

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 €7.74

$17.34 $17.34

-47.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$607 €518

$2,248 $2,248

-73.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K €13.9K

$24.1K $24.1K

-32.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$105 €89.4

$75.6 $75.6

38.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.95 €34.97

$64.1 $64.1

-36.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 €79.9

$76.1 $76.1

22.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 €101

$134 $134

-11.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 €1,370

$3,328 $3,328

-51.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,236 €1,055

$2,457 $2,457

-49.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,046 €2,601

$6,213 $6,213

-50.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,057 €1,756

$3,629 $3,629

-43.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,709 €6,583

$7,901 $7,901

-2.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,266 €3,644

$5,593 $5,593

-23.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,584 €1,353

$5,927 $5,927

-73.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

6.62

-42.45%

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

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Last update for Jersey City, NJ: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $3,328 in Jersey City, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jersey City, NJ pays 274% 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 $99.0 in Jersey City, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $449 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 Jersey City, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Jersey City, NJ earns 274% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $3,328 in Jersey City, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 99% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $2,248 in Jersey City, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,227 in Lisbon versus $3,928 in Jersey City, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Jersey City, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Lisbon is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jersey City, NJ, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Jersey City, 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.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Jersey City, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.