😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,521 in New Westminster versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,864 in New Westminster versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,207 in New Westminster versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in New Westminster is roughly 10% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: New Westminster89% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.70CA$20.68
$16.19€14.18
-9.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9CA$105
$63.3€55.5
18.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.85CA$13.86
$10.32€9.04
-4.55%
Cappuccino
$4.07CA$5.73
$2.83€2.48
43.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01CA$2.84
$2.29€2.01
-12.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40CA$1.97
$1.58€1.38
-11.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.24CA$8.78
$3.40€2.98
83.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55CA$9.21
$4.03€3.53
62.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32CA$3.27
$1.09€0.96
112.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49CA$3.51
$1.75€1.53
42.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.76CA$5.29
$1.76€1.54
113.64%
Eggs
$3.60CA$5.07
$3.17€2.77
13.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.04CA$14.13
$13.19€11.56
-23.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.21CA$14.37
$7.97€6.98
28.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.85CA$13.86
$15.53€13.60
-36.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11CA$4.37
$2.37€2.07
31.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42CA$2.00
$1.71€1.49
-16.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.94CA$4.14
$2.01€1.76
46.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72CA$5.24
$2.43€2.13
53.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53CA$3.56
$1.76€1.54
43.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20CA$3.10
$2.03€1.78
8.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.88CA$2.65
$1.92€1.68
-2.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14CA$3.00
$0.85€0.74
151.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.89CA$22.35
$6.58€5.76
141.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.66CA$15.00
$5.58€4.89
91.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17CA$3.06
$1.33€1.17
63.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99CA$4.20
$2.97€2.60
0.67%
🚌 Getting Around
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.57CA$3.61
$2.28€1.99
12.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.6CA$133
$45.79€40.10
106.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.16CA$3.03
$4.23€3.70
-48.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60CA$2.25
$0.81€0.71
97.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.11CA$32.52
$18.44€16.15
25.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26CA$1.77
$2.08€1.82
-39.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.8K
$34.7K€30.4K
-26.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KCA$27.9K
$39.2K€34.3K
-49.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115CA$161
$148€130
-22.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.62CA$64.2
$20.46€17.92
122.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8CA$93.9
$39.56€34.64
68.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.04CA$49.31
$47.99€42.03
-26.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72CA$26.34
$18.60€16.29
0.65%
Cinema Ticket
$12.17CA$17.13
$9.22€8.08
32.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$820CA$1,153
$616€540
33.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,048CA$11.3K
$16.4K€14.4K
-51.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.26CA$67.9
$103€90.0
-53.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.28CA$46.83
$41.74€36.55
-20.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0CA$117
$94.8€83.0
-12.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105CA$147
$122€107
-14.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,625CA$2,286
$1,633€1,430
-0.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,374CA$1,933
$1,232€1,079
11.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,016CA$4,243
$3,098€2,713
-2.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,752CA$3,873
$2,031€1,779
35.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,732CA$6,659
$7,831€6,858
-39.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,089CA$5,754
$4,389€3,844
-6.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Westminster
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,065CA$4,313
$1,607€1,408
90.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.44
3.81
69.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for New Westminster: July 12, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,625 in New Westminster and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰New Westminster pays 91% 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: $75.0 in New Westminster vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $267 per month, with Lisbon 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
New Westminster vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in New Westminster and in Lisbon?
New Westminster and Lisbon differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($2,521 vs $2,291 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: New Westminster or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 91% higher in New Westminster, 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 New Westminster and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,625 in New Westminster versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between New Westminster and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $820 in New Westminster versus $616 in Lisbon. 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 22% higher in New Westminster. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lisbon is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between New Westminster and Lisbon?
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 New Westminster or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, New Westminster and Lisbon 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: New Westminster or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in New Westminster. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
New Westminster vs other spots: cost of living compared