Cost of Living Comparison Between Akranes and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Akranes and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,434 in Akranes versus $2,227 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,592 in Akranes versus $3,305 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,750 in Akranes versus $4,384 in Lisbon.

Living in Akranes is roughly 54% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Akranes 156% above, Lisbon 66% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.17 ISK 3,328
$16.17 €13.81
68.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$145 ISK 17.7K
$64.6 €55.1
124.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$22.07 ISK 2,703
$10.38 €8.86
112.62%
Cappuccino
$6.13 ISK 751
$2.77 €2.37
121.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 ISK 384
$2.25 €1.92
39.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ISK 289
$1.57 €1.34
50.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.54 ISK 1,291
$3.49 €2.98
202.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 ISK 997
$4.00 €3.42
103.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ISK 236
$1.08 €0.93
77.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 ISK 253
$1.74 €1.49
18.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.59 ISK 439
$1.74 €1.48
106.32%
Eggs
$6.11 ISK 748
$3.18 €2.71
92.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.93 ISK 2,195
$13.43 €11.47
33.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.18 ISK 2,961
$7.99 €6.83
202.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$43.23 ISK 5,295
$16.09 €13.74
168.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 ISK 400
$2.28 €1.95
42.98%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 ISK 296
$1.72 €1.47
40.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 ISK 364
$1.94 €1.66
53.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.93 ISK 604
$2.54 €2.17
94.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.56 ISK 436
$1.83 €1.56
94.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 ISK 284
$2.04 €1.74
13.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.05 ISK 374
$1.98 €1.69
54.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 ISK 236
$0.85 €0.73
127.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.70 ISK 1,678
$6.85 €5.85
100.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.69 ISK 2,779
$5.78 €4.93
292.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ISK 337
$1.37 €1.17
100.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ISK 242
$2.90 €2.48
-31.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.67 ISK 449
$2.28 €1.95
60.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.5 ISK 9,004
$46.84 €40.00
56.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.52 ISK 799
$4.08 €3.48
59.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ISK 128
$0.82 €0.70
28.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.4 ISK 10.6K
$18.27 €15.60
373.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.56 ISK 314
$2.01 €1.71
27.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.6K ISK 5.8M
$35.3K €30.1K
35.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.3K ISK 6.4M
$38.5K €32.9K
35.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.7 ISK 10.7K
$145 €124
-39.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.18 ISK 3,328
$20.96 €17.90
29.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$87.0 ISK 10.7K
$40.05 €34.21
117.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$48.79 €41.66
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 €15.97
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.80 ISK 2,180
$9.06 €7.74
96.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$327 ISK 40.0K
$607 €518
-46.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K ISK 3.7M
$16.3K €13.9K
85.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$140 ISK 17.1K
$105 €89.4
33.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9 ISK 7,585
$40.95 €34.97
51.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$179 ISK 21.9K
$93.6 €79.9
91.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$263 ISK 32.2K
$119 €101
121.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,958 ISK 362.2K
$1,604 €1,370
84.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,833 ISK 224.5K
$1,236 €1,055
48.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,728 ISK 579.1K
$3,046 €2,601
55.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,569 ISK 437.1K
$2,057 €1,756
73.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,709 €6,583
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,266 €3,644
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akranes
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,650 ISK 691.9K
$1,584 €1,353
256.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.63
3.81
152.76%

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

Last update for Akranes: April 25, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,958 in Akranes and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akranes pays 257% 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: $145 in Akranes vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $564 vs $271 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
Akranes vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Akranes or Lisbon?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Akranes. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lisbon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Akranes or Lisbon?
Akranes pays 257% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Akranes vs Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,958 in Akranes versus $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Akranes compared to Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $3,434 per month in Akranes versus $2,227 in Lisbon – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Akranes vs Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 57% less than in Akranes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Akranes or Lisbon?
At $2,227 in Lisbon versus $3,434 in Akranes, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Akranes. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Akranes or Lisbon?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,227 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Akranes compared to Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Akranes 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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