Cost of Living Comparison Between North Brunswick, NJ and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between North Brunswick, NJ and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,582 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $2,243 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,782 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $3,315 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,981 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $4,387 in Lisbon.

Living in North Brunswick, NJ is roughly 15% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: North Brunswick, NJ 93% above, Lisbon 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.18 $19.18
$15.73 €13.42
21.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.8 $73.8
$63.2 €53.9
16.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.91 $10.91
$10.32 €8.80
5.72%
Cappuccino
$4.96 $4.96
$2.81 €2.40
76.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.33 €1.99
6.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.51 €1.29
35.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.87 $5.87
$3.37 €2.87
74.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$3.91 €3.34
81.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.08 €0.92
-7.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 $3.59
$1.75 €1.49
105.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.27 $4.27
$1.75 €1.50
144.00%
Eggs
$4.11 $4.11
$3.10 €2.64
32.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.08 $12.08
$13.28 €11.33
-9.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.34 $11.34
$7.85 €6.70
44.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.65 $15.65
$16.05 €13.69
-2.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.98 $4.98
$2.39 €2.04
108.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.72 €1.47
-8.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 $4.20
$1.97 €1.68
113.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$2.55 €2.17
82.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.79 €1.53
59.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.97 €1.68
41.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.96 €1.67
4.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.84 €0.71
151.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.69 $9.69
$6.82 €5.82
42.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.45 $15.45
$5.85 €4.99
164.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.38 €1.18
28.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 $3.28
$2.92 €2.49
12.33%
🚌 Getting Around
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.29 €1.95
-15.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$46.88 €39.99
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$4.12 €3.51
-17.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$0.81 €0.69
103.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.65 $29.65
$18.94 €16.16
56.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$2.09 €1.78
-56.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$35.1K €30.0K
-16.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$39.7K €33.9K
-35.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 $191
$150 €128
27.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 $52.0
$20.49 €17.48
153.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6 $68.6
$39.15 €33.40
75.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.22 $43.22
$49.65 €42.35
-12.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.47 €15.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 $13.73
$9.20 €7.84
49.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,310 $1,310
$624 €533
109.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$15.9K €13.6K
47.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5 $50.5
$102 €87.2
-50.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23 $40.23
$40.88 €34.87
-1.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 $86.1
$95.7 €81.6
-10.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 $111
$121 €103
-8.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,630 $1,630
$1,653 €1,410
-1.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,365 $1,365
$1,233 €1,051
10.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,645 $2,645
$3,043 €2,596
-13.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,259 $2,259
$2,059 €1,756
9.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,635 $2,635
$7,879 €6,720
-66.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,492 $2,492
$4,303 €3,671
-42.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
North Brunswick, NJ
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,566 €1,336
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
3.81
70.87%

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

Last update for North Brunswick, NJ: April 21, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,630 in North Brunswick, NJ and $1,653 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74 in North Brunswick, NJ vs $63 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 vs $270 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
North Brunswick, NJ vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in North Brunswick, NJ and Lisbon?
North Brunswick, NJ and Lisbon differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($2,582 vs $2,243 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in North Brunswick, NJ compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $3,874 in North Brunswick, NJ and $3,365 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in North Brunswick, NJ and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,630 in North Brunswick, NJ versus $1,653 in Lisbon. 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 44% higher in North Brunswick, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: North Brunswick, NJ or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,582 per month in North Brunswick, NJ versus $2,243 in Lisbon – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
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 North Brunswick, NJ 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 North Brunswick, NJ or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, North Brunswick, NJ 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: North Brunswick, NJ or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in North Brunswick, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

North Brunswick, NJ vs other spots: cost of living compared

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