๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,243 in Lisbon versus $699 in Novo Hamburgo.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,098 in Novo Hamburgo.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Lisbon versus $1,498 in Novo Hamburgo.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 221% more expensive than Novo Hamburgo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 67% above, Novo Hamburgo is 48% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73โฌ13.42
$4.44R$22.06
254.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.2โฌ53.9
$16.67R$82.9
278.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32โฌ8.80
$6.17R$30.68
67.26%
Cappuccino
$2.81โฌ2.40
$1.46R$7.24
92.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33โฌ1.99
$1.12R$5.59
108.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$0.82R$4.07
84.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$2.12R$10.53
58.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.34
$2.77R$13.75
41.16%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.92
$0.83R$4.13
30.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$1.40R$6.93
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.50
$0.70R$3.48
150.00%
Eggs
$3.10โฌ2.64
$2.00R$9.92
55.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28โฌ11.33
$8.02R$39.86
65.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.85โฌ6.70
$4.12R$20.49
90.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.05โฌ13.69
$6.46R$32.12
148.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.98R$9.85
20.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$0.99R$4.92
73.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$0.75R$3.74
162.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$1.20R$5.99
112.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.53
$1.10R$5.49
62.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97โฌ1.68
$0.91R$4.54
116.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$0.78R$3.88
151.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.71
$0.53R$2.61
58.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82โฌ5.82
$1.64R$8.15
315.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85โฌ4.99
$7.36R$36.60
-20.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$0.98R$4.88
40.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92โฌ2.49
$1.85R$9.21
57.84%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29โฌ1.95
$0.79R$3.93
189.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.88โฌ39.99
$37.91R$188
23.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12โฌ3.51
$1.59R$7.92
159.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81โฌ0.69
$1.04R$5.19
-22.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.94โฌ16.16
$5.38R$26.73
252.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09โฌ1.78
$1.03R$5.14
102.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.0K
$24.2KR$120.4K
44.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7Kโฌ33.9K
$27.9KR$138.8K
42.17%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150โฌ128
$61.3R$305
143.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$14.58R$72.5
40.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.15โฌ33.40
$19.64R$97.6
99.34%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.65โฌ42.35
$22.67R$113
119.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.47โฌ15.76
$21.60R$107
-14.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20โฌ7.84
$6.36R$31.60
44.65%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624โฌ533
$311R$1,548
100.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kโฌ13.6K
$7,134R$35.5K
122.98%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ87.2
$42.92R$213
138.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.88โฌ34.87
$33.96R$169
20.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7โฌ81.6
$73.4R$365
30.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121โฌ103
$38.24R$190
216.68%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,653โฌ1,410
$239R$1,190
590.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,233โฌ1,051
$172R$854
617.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,043โฌ2,596
$524R$2,604
480.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,059โฌ1,756
$389R$1,935
428.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,879โฌ6,720
$1,651R$8,203
377.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,303โฌ3,671
$1,181R$5,870
264.36%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,566โฌ1,336
$494R$2,453
217.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10
-61.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026
Last update for Novo Hamburgo: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,653 in Lisbon and $239 in Novo Hamburgo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLisbon pays 217% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $63 in Lisbon vs $17 in Novo Hamburgo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $160 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 Novo Hamburgo?
Lisbon and Novo Hamburgo differ by about 221% in total monthly costs ($2,243 vs $699 including rent). Novo Hamburgo is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lisbon or Novo Hamburgo?
Lisbon pays 217% 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 Novo Hamburgo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,653 in Lisbon versus $239 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 $624 in Lisbon versus $311 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 69% 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 $699 in Novo Hamburgo versus $2,243 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 221% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.