🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $2,529 in New Castle, DE.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $3,688 in New Castle, DE.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $4,848 in New Castle, DE.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 12% less than in New Castle, DE, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, New Castle, DE90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78€13.59
$20.17$20.17
-21.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5€53.8
$80.0$80.0
-21.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54€9.07
$14.88$14.88
-29.17%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.38
$5.19$5.19
-46.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.97
$2.58$2.58
-11.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55€1.33
$2.06$2.06
-24.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$8.14$8.14
-56.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98€3.43
$7.86$7.86
-49.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$0.80$0.80
35.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$4.00$4.00
-55.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$9.82$9.82
-81.98%
Eggs
$3.12€2.69
$4.18$4.18
-25.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.34€11.49
$12.33$12.33
8.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.88
$11.60$11.60
-31.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92€13.70
$15.27$15.27
4.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.89$2.89
-21.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$2.52$2.52
-34.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$2.24$2.24
-11.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.72$1.72
42.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.63$1.63
8.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97€1.69
$3.71$3.71
-46.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$2.58$2.58
-23.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80€0.69
$2.98$2.98
-73.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.63
$11.09$11.09
-41.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.75€4.95
$15.25$15.25
-62.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.71$1.71
-22.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$6.47$6.47
-53.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.01
$2.04$2.04
14.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.85€39.48
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26€3.66
$6.05$6.05
-29.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.73
$1.38$1.38
-39.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.86€16.24
$42.75$42.75
-55.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.78
$0.90$0.90
130.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K€30.3K
$29.6K$29.6K
18.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K€33.2K
$26.6K$26.6K
45.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151€130
$179$179
-15.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91€18.00
$49.81$49.81
-58.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54€34.05
$55.9$55.9
-29.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.39€41.67
$43.15$43.15
12.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61€16.02
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.79
$9.85$9.85
-8.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€525
$1,892$1,892
-67.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$39.3K$39.3K
-58.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€87.2
$29.45$29.45
243.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58€34.94
$55.1$55.1
-26.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0€80.1
$49.20$49.20
89.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$101$101
17.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603€1,380
$1,630$1,630
-1.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,239€1,067
$1,376$1,376
-9.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,019€2,599
$2,599$2,599
16.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,061€1,775
$2,201$2,201
-6.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,981€6,872
$2,975$2,975
168.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,533€3,903
$2,528$2,528
79.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
New Castle, DE
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,628€1,402
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
6.55
-41.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026
Last update for New Castle, DE: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $1,630 in New Castle, DE. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $80.0 in New Castle, DE for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $402 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 New Castle, DE: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and New Castle, DE?
Lisbon and New Castle, DE differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $2,529 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to New Castle, DE?
You'd need roughly $3,325 in Lisbon and $3,793 in New Castle, DE to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and New Castle, DE?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $1,630 in New Castle, DE. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in New Castle, DE. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or New Castle, DE?
All in, you'll spend $2,217 per month in Lisbon versus $2,529 in New Castle, DE – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,217 in Lisbon versus $2,529 in New Castle, DE, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in New Castle, DE. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and New Castle, DE?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or New Castle, DE safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and New Castle, DE are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or New Castle, DE?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in New Castle, DE. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.