😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $695 in Nova Iguacu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $1,099 in Nova Iguacu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $1,504 in Nova Iguacu.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 220% more expensive than Nova Iguacu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 66% above, Nova Iguacu is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$2.93R$14.63
451.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$23.00R$115
180.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$7.25R$36.18
43.17%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$1.88R$9.37
47.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.01R$5.02
122.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$0.53R$2.63
196.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$1.58R$7.91
120.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$1.33R$6.62
200.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.10R$5.48
-1.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$1.28R$6.39
35.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.11R$5.54
56.76%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$1.92R$9.58
65.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$7.70R$38.44
74.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$2.52R$12.59
217.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$6.68R$33.33
140.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$1.27R$6.34
79.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.28R$6.41
34.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$0.86R$4.28
125.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$1.58R$7.90
60.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$0.93R$4.66
96.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.94R$4.68
117.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$0.37R$1.85
435.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.38R$1.88
123.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$1.70R$8.48
302.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$6.16R$30.73
-6.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$0.93R$4.66
47.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.27R$6.36
128.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$1.29R$6.46
76.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$45.37R$226
3.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$0.87R$4.32
368.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.07R$5.33
-23.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$8.81R$43.97
107.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$1.02R$5.07
97.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$22.6KR$112.9K
55.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$29.0KR$144.5K
32.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$46.06R$230
215.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$10.93R$54.5
91.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$18.66R$93.1
114.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$21.94R$109
122.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$21.85R$109
-14.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$5.35R$26.71
69.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$67.9R$339
793.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$1,709R$8,527
855.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$53.3R$266
96.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$34.02R$170
20.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$57.5R$287
62.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$53.1R$265
123.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$302R$1,508
430.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$229R$1,144
438.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$587R$2,927
419.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$409R$2,041
402.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$1,659R$8,278
364.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$1,214R$6,057
251.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Nova Iguacu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$243R$1,215
550.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.92
-65.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Nova Iguacu: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $302 in Nova Iguacu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 551% 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 $23.00 in Nova Iguacu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $147 per month, with Nova Iguacu 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 Nova Iguacu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Nova Iguacu?
Lisbon and Nova Iguacu differ by about 220% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $695 including rent). Nova Iguacu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Nova Iguacu?
Lisbon pays 551% more on average, 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 Nova Iguacu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $302 in Nova Iguacu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Nova Iguacu?
Childcare runs $607 in Lisbon versus $67.9 in Nova Iguacu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $695 in Nova Iguacu versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nova Iguacu but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Nova Iguacu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Nova Iguacu?
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 Iguacu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Nova Iguacu 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 Iguacu?
Expats usually find Nova Iguacu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 220% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.