Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Friburgo and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Friburgo and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Nova Friburgo versus $2,210 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,198 in Nova Friburgo versus $3,311 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,663 in Nova Friburgo versus $4,411 in Lisbon.

Living in Nova Friburgo costs roughly 67% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Nova Friburgo is 45% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.15 R$36.20
$15.91 €13.70
-55.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.81 R$161
$64.8 €55.8
-50.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.90 R$29.88
$10.51 €9.05
-43.86%
Cappuccino
$1.90 R$9.62
$2.87 €2.47
-33.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 R$4.05
$2.24 €1.93
-64.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 R$2.43
$1.50 €1.29
-68.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 R$8.45
$3.49 €3.01
-52.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 R$13.48
$3.88 €3.34
-31.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 R$4.62
$1.14 €0.98
-20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 R$9.02
$1.75 €1.51
1.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 R$7.41
$1.76 €1.51
-17.05%
Eggs
$2.00 R$10.11
$3.22 €2.77
-37.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.00 R$40.48
$13.49 €11.61
-40.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.67 R$18.56
$7.91 €6.81
-53.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.08 R$40.92
$15.87 €13.67
-49.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.08
$2.31 €1.99
-39.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 R$7.97
$1.70 €1.46
-7.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 R$7.65
$2.01 €1.73
-24.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 R$7.93
$2.46 €2.12
-36.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.56
$1.84 €1.59
-29.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 R$5.81
$2.00 €1.72
-42.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 R$3.50
$1.93 €1.66
-64.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.08
$0.79 €0.68
-22.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 R$10.11
$6.61 €5.69
-69.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.09 R$30.86
$5.72 €4.93
6.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 R$6.45
$1.37 €1.18
-7.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 R$10.45
$2.97 €2.56
-30.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 R$4.61
$2.37 €2.04
-61.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.86 R$197
$45.56 €39.22
-14.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 R$5.39
$4.29 €3.69
-75.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 R$2.36
$0.82 €0.70
-42.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.99 R$30.31
$18.30 €15.76
-67.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 R$5.20
$2.06 €1.78
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.2K R$71.8K
$34.3K €29.5K
-58.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K R$128.2K
$39.3K €33.8K
-35.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.60 R$185
$148 €127
-75.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.52 R$43.12
$20.52 €17.67
-58.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.15 R$86.9
$39.61 €34.10
-56.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.17 R$102
$47.85 €41.19
-57.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.99 R$111
$18.92 €16.29
16.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.46 R$32.69
$9.18 €7.91
-29.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$545 R$2,760
$614 €529
-11.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K R$59.7K
$16.0K €13.8K
-26.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.96 R$228
$105 €90.1
-57.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.34 R$209
$42.06 €36.21
-1.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.2 R$315
$94.0 €80.9
-33.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0 R$314
$120 €103
-48.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$311 R$1,573
$1,628 €1,401
-80.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$218 R$1,102
$1,255 €1,081
-82.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 R$2,950
$3,030 €2,609
-80.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 R$2,193
$2,020 €1,739
-78.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,615 R$8,179
$7,800 €6,715
-79.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$808 R$4,090
$4,273 €3,678
-81.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nova Friburgo
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$510 R$2,585
$1,603 €1,380
-68.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
3.81
197.38%

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

Last update for Nova Friburgo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Nova Friburgo and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 214% 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: $32.00 in Nova Friburgo vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $269 per month, with Nova Friburgo 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
Nova Friburgo vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nova Friburgo and Lisbon?
Nova Friburgo and Lisbon differ by about 202% in total monthly costs ($733 vs $2,210 including rent). Nova Friburgo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lisbon earns 214% less. 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 Nova Friburgo and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Nova Friburgo versus $1,628 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 Nova Friburgo and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $545 in Nova Friburgo versus $614 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 53% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $733 in Nova Friburgo versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nova Friburgo but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Nova Friburgo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nova Friburgo 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 Nova Friburgo or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nova Friburgo 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: Nova Friburgo or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Nova Friburgo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 202% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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