😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $744 in Novo Hamburgo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $1,192 in Novo Hamburgo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $1,640 in Novo Hamburgo.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 212% more expensive than in Novo Hamburgo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 69% above, Novo Hamburgo is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.89
$4.83R$24.75
258.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$18.20R$93.3
247.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.80
$6.81R$34.91
67.25%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.75
$1.58R$8.10
101.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$1.28R$6.54
91.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$0.88R$4.49
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$2.27R$11.61
58.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$2.92R$14.99
16.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$0.88R$4.52
40.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$1.66R$8.49
19.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$0.73R$3.76
108.22%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$2.10R$10.76
92.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.65
$8.71R$44.63
55.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.22
$4.41R$22.58
90.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.70
$7.00R$35.89
160.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.35R$12.04
-2.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.06R$5.43
64.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$0.80R$4.11
132.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$1.22R$6.23
115.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.16R$5.94
65.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$0.97R$4.99
115.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$0.87R$4.47
65.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.60R$3.06
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$1.78R$9.10
280.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$7.30R$37.39
-21.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.13R$5.80
22.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$2.06R$10.57
7.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$0.78R$4.00
207.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.25
$44.27R$227
5.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$1.24R$6.34
236.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$0.78R$4.02
46.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.21
$8.13R$41.67
117.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.08R$5.51
114.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$23.1KR$118.5K
52.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.7K
$33.0KR$169.2K
25.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€147
$73.3R$375
132.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.64
$12.16R$62.3
59.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.95
$21.69R$111
55.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.39
$25.21R$129
90.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.12
$27.05R$139
-26.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.54
$6.71R$34.36
47.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$294R$1,505
144.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
$7,339R$37.6K
138.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.2
$44.94R$230
133.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.40
$36.23R$186
29.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.0
$77.2R$395
33.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$39.75R$204
211.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,443
$258R$1,323
549.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,094
$184R$944
590.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,568
$544R$2,786
448.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,715
$428R$2,193
365.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,734
$1,623R$8,318
382.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,008
$1,128R$5,779
312.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,362
$475R$2,434
233.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
11
-65.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Novo Hamburgo: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $258 in Novo Hamburgo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 233% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $18.00 in Novo Hamburgo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $174 per month, with Novo Hamburgo 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 Novo Hamburgo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Novo Hamburgo?
Lisbon and Novo Hamburgo differ by about 212% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $744 including rent). Novo Hamburgo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Novo Hamburgo?
Average pay runs 233% 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 Novo Hamburgo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $258 in Novo Hamburgo. 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 Novo Hamburgo?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $294 in Novo Hamburgo. 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 63% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $744 in Novo Hamburgo versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novo Hamburgo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Novo Hamburgo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Novo Hamburgo?
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 Novo Hamburgo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Novo Hamburgo 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 Novo Hamburgo?
Expats usually find Novo Hamburgo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 212% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.