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: $3,766 in Akranes versus $2,268 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,946 in Akranes versus $3,348 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,125 in Akranes versus $4,429 in Lisbon.

Living in Akranes is roughly 66% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Akranes 173% above, Lisbon 64% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.03 ISK 3,617

$17.55 €15.12

71.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$134 ISK 16.2K

$64.5 €55.6

108.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$26.46 ISK 3,187

$11.65 €10.04

127.12%

Cappuccino

$6.10 ISK 735

$3.26 €2.81

87.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ISK 401

$2.49 €2.15

33.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 301

$1.67 €1.44

49.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.65 ISK 1,283

$3.47 €2.99

206.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 ISK 977

$3.58 €3.08

126.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ISK 245

$1.18 €1.02

72.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 ISK 246

$1.95 €1.68

5.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.52 ISK 424

$1.56 €1.35

125.64%

Eggs

$6.29 ISK 757

$4.01 €3.46

56.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.48 ISK 2,467

$13.27 €11.44

54.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.90 ISK 2,999

$8.42 €7.26

195.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.58 ISK 5,009

$18.23 €15.72

128.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 ISK 412

$2.32 €2.00

47.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.91 ISK 350

$1.73 €1.49

68.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 ISK 383

$1.93 €1.67

64.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 ISK 606

$2.64 €2.27

90.53%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 ISK 480

$1.90 €1.64

110.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 ISK 207

$2.11 €1.82

-18.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.69 ISK 445

$1.44 €1.24

156.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ISK 215

$0.80 €0.69

122.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.94 ISK 1,680

$7.01 €6.04

98.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.89 ISK 2,878

$5.92 €5.11

303.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 ISK 348

$1.36 €1.18

112.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ISK 242

$2.15 €1.85

-6.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.62 ISK 436

$2.38 €2.05

52.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.9 ISK 9,027

$46.22 €39.85

62.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.96 ISK 838

$4.19 €3.61

66.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 ISK 152

$1.10 €0.95

14.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$75.0 ISK 9,037

$17.26 €14.88

334.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.97 ISK 237

$2.25 €1.94

-12.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$52.1K ISK 6.3M

$34.5K €29.7K

51.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$55.2K ISK 6.6M

$41.6K €35.9K

32.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$87.8 ISK 10.6K

$171 €147

-48.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.25 ISK 4,005

$19.01 €16.38

74.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.5 ISK 10.1K

$34.28 €29.55

143.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$102 ISK 12.2K

$49.65 €42.80

104.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.51 €16.81

Cinema Ticket

$19.75 ISK 2,379

$10.10 €8.71

95.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,214 ISK 146.2K

$699 €603

73.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.7M

$17.8K €15.3K

72.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$160 ISK 19.3K

$105 €90.2

53.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 ISK 7,933

$47.97 €41.35

37.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$180 ISK 21.7K

$102 €87.8

77.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$249 ISK 29.9K

$128 €111

93.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,035 ISK 365.5K

$1,661 €1,432

82.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 ISK 229.7K

$1,228 €1,059

55.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,989 ISK 600.9K

$2,915 €2,513

71.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,683 ISK 443.6K

$2,023 €1,744

82.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,129 €7,007

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,635 €3,996

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,858 ISK 705.6K

$1,619 €1,396

261.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.88

3.78

134.92%

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

Last update for Akranes: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,035 in Akranes and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akranes pays 262% 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: $134 in Akranes vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $581 vs $281 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

Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 66% 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.

Average pay runs 262% higher in Akranes, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,035 in Akranes versus $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,766 per month in Akranes versus $2,268 in Lisbon – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 62% less than in Akranes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your 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.

Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,268 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.

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.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.