Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Nova Friburgo

For one person, living is cheaper in Nova Friburgo: $608 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $19,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Nova Friburgo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in Nova Friburgo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lisbon and in Nova Friburgo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $608 in Nova Friburgo.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • Nova Friburgo $608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $1,017 in Nova Friburgo.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • Nova Friburgo $1,017

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $1,426 in Nova Friburgo.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • Nova Friburgo $1,426

Living in Lisbon is roughly 262% more expensive than in Nova Friburgo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 62% above, Nova Friburgo is 55% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$6.05 R$30.66
181.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$29.82 R$151
108.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$6.36 R$32.25
73.27%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$1.75 R$8.88
78.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$0.91 R$4.61
149.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$0.57 R$2.88
205.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$1.22 R$6.17
180.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$2.42 R$12.28
54.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.02 R$5.15
14.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$1.49 R$7.55
24.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.37 R$6.94
12.41%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$1.97 R$9.98
106.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$8.78 R$44.51
47.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$3.32 R$16.84
137.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$9.63 R$48.83
83.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.63 R$8.25
38.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.20 R$6.09
45.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$0.98 R$4.96
92.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$1.26 R$6.41
103.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$0.70 R$3.56
164.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$0.86 R$4.37
129.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$0.57 R$2.90
154.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$0.82 R$4.14
-6.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$1.57 R$7.94
327.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$6.04 R$30.60
-6.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$0.97 R$4.90
41.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$1.37 R$6.95
54.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$0.98 R$4.98
136.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$1.21 R$6.12
226.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$0.55 R$2.77
90.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$6.71 R$34.02
155.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.28 R$6.50
71.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$19.7K R$99.7K
71.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$30.5K R$154.5K
25.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$40.04 R$203
309.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$9.52 R$48.26
94.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$18.79 R$95.2
75.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$21.63 R$110
112.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$6.84 R$34.69
42.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$142 R$719
382.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$2,604 R$13.2K
576.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$68.6 R$348
51.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$83.6 R$424
-44.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$67.1 R$340
48.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$47.52 R$241
162.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$156 R$789
921.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$99.8 R$506
1071.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$395 R$2,005
620.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$236 R$1,195
745.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$1,578 R$7,998
393.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$785 R$3,980
462.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Nova Friburgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$501 R$2,542
219.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
10.67
-63.92%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Nova Friburgo: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
Nova Friburgo
$100 91.5% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
Nova Friburgo
$171 37.2% $102
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
Nova Friburgo
$105 57.4% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
Nova Friburgo
$68 68.2% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
Nova Friburgo
$120 28.7% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
Nova Friburgo
$35 46% $30
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
Nova Friburgo
$7.9 * 87.5% $55

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Lisbon and $156 in Nova Friburgo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 219% 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: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $30.00 in Nova Friburgo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $171 per month, with Nova Friburgo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇧🇷 Nova Friburgo
🕒 Local time
12:38 12:38 PM
08:38 8:38 AM
4 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
189,939
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon Nova Friburgo 7,620 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • Nova Friburgo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Nova Friburgo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Nova Friburgo?
Lisbon and Nova Friburgo differ by about 262% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $608 including rent). Nova Friburgo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Nova Friburgo?
Average pay runs 219% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Nova Friburgo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $156 in Nova Friburgo. 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 59% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Nova Friburgo?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $608 in Nova Friburgo – a 262% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $608 in Nova Friburgo versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nova Friburgo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Nova Friburgo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Nova Friburgo?
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 Nova Friburgo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Nova Friburgo 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 Nova Friburgo?
Expats usually find Nova Friburgo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 262% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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