Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and West Caldwell, NJ

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,202 a month against $2,828 in West Caldwell, NJ, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
West Caldwell, NJ
🇺🇸 United States
$2,828
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lisbon and in West Caldwell, NJ

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 West Caldwell, NJ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,202 in Lisbon versus $2,828 in West Caldwell, NJ.

  • Lisbon $2,202
  • West Caldwell, NJ $2,828

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,274 in Lisbon versus $3,976 in West Caldwell, NJ.

  • Lisbon $3,274
  • West Caldwell, NJ $3,976

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,346 in Lisbon versus $5,123 in West Caldwell, NJ.

  • Lisbon $4,346
  • West Caldwell, NJ $5,123

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 22% less than in West Caldwell, NJ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 62% above, West Caldwell, NJ 109% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €15.15
$21.87 $21.87
-22.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.3 €55.4
$79.2 $79.2
-21.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.02 €9.80
$12.69 $12.69
-13.16%
Cappuccino
$3.12 €2.78
$5.29 $5.29
-41.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €2.02
$3.00 $3.00
-24.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.30 $2.30
-24.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €3.04
$5.83 $5.83
-41.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 €3.33
$7.85 $7.85
-52.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.40 $1.40
-16.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 €1.66
$4.42 $4.42
-57.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 €1.37
$7.20 $7.20
-78.61%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.61
$5.10 $5.10
-20.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 €11.49
$12.32 $12.32
4.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.90 €7.03
$12.94 $12.94
-38.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.64 €15.69
$18.08 $18.08
-2.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$5.41 $5.41
-58.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.55
$1.53 $1.53
14.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 €1.68
$5.06 $5.06
-62.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$5.29 $5.29
-51.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 €1.64
$2.86 $2.86
-35.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.75
$3.08 $3.08
-36.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$2.50 $2.50
-42.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.69
$2.42 $2.42
-68.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 €5.97
$12.02 $12.02
-44.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.67 €5.04
$15.29 $15.29
-62.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.22
$2.40 $2.40
-42.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.88
$4.43 $4.43
-52.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 €2.07
$2.28 $2.28
1.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.43 €39.52
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 €3.51
$2.71 $2.71
45.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 €0.93
$1.54 $1.54
-31.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.15 €15.26
$24.39 $24.39
-29.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.10 $1.10
99.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K €30.0K
$31.4K $31.4K
7.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €34.0K
$25.8K $25.8K
48.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$164 €146
$217 $217
-24.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 €16.43
$63.1 $63.1
-70.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.96 €29.32
$65.3 $65.3
-49.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.87 €40.80
$38.56 $38.56
18.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.68 €16.61
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.75 €8.67
$15.60 $15.60
-37.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 €608
$2,198 $2,198
-68.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.6K €15.7K
$42.8K $42.8K
-58.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €92.3
$47.95 $47.95
116.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.20 €41.09
$47.46 $47.46
-2.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 €88.7
$103 $103
-3.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €111
$138 $138
-9.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 €1,414
$1,626 $1,626
-2.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 €1,040
$1,447 $1,447
-19.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,851 €2,536
$2,196 $2,196
29.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,993 €1,773
$2,075 $2,075
-3.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,793 €6,932
$2,488 $2,488
213.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,418 €3,930
$2,482 $2,482
77.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,600 €1,423
$2,996 $2,996
-46.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
6.62
-41.84%

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

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
$1.2K
West Caldwell, NJ
$1.4K 23.8% $278
Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
$273
West Caldwell, NJ
$451 65.3% $178
Eating Out
Lisbon
$247
West Caldwell, NJ
$343 38.4% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
$215
West Caldwell, NJ
$346 60.6% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
$168
West Caldwell, NJ
$152 9.9% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
$65
West Caldwell, NJ
$70 6.7% $4.4
Getting Around
Lisbon
$63
West Caldwell, NJ
$20 * 69% $43

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 $1,626 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Caldwell, NJ pays 87% 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 $79.0 in West Caldwell, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $451 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🇺🇸 West Caldwell, NJ
🕒 Local time
07:01 7:01 AM
02:01 2:01 AM
5 h behind Lisbon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
545,923 Capital
10,797
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lisbon West Caldwell, NJ 5,440 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lisbon
  • West Caldwell, NJ

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 West Caldwell, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in West Caldwell, NJ?
Lisbon and West Caldwell, NJ differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,202 vs $2,828 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 87% lower in West Caldwell, NJ. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in West Caldwell, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,589 in Lisbon versus $1,626 in West Caldwell, NJ. 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 65% higher in West Caldwell, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or West Caldwell, NJ?
All in, you'll spend $2,202 per month in Lisbon versus $2,828 in West Caldwell, NJ – a 28% 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 $2,202 in Lisbon versus $2,828 in West Caldwell, NJ, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in West Caldwell, NJ. 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 West Caldwell, NJ?
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 West Caldwell, NJ safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and West Caldwell, NJ 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 West Caldwell, NJ?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in West Caldwell, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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