Cost of Living Comparison Between Akureyri and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Akureyri and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,878 per month in Akureyri vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,875 per month in Akureyri vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,871 per month in Akureyri vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Akureyri costs about 26% more than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Akureyri and Lisbon sit above the global median – Akureyri by 115%, Lisbon by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.99 ISK 2,989

$16.19 €14.15

48.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$129 ISK 16.1K

$63.3 €55.3

103.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$22.32 ISK 2,781

$10.32 €9.02

116.28%

Cappuccino

$4.83 ISK 602

$2.83 €2.47

70.67%

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

$3.39 ISK 422

$2.29 €2.00

48.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 ISK 383

$1.58 €1.38

94.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$10.69 ISK 1,332

$3.40 €2.97

214.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.08 ISK 1,132

$4.03 €3.52

125.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.76 ISK 344

$1.09 €0.95

153.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 ISK 284

$1.75 €1.53

30.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 ISK 374

$1.76 €1.54

70.45%

Eggs

$7.93 ISK 988

$3.17 €2.77

150.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.53

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.73 ISK 2,956

$7.97 €6.96

197.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.57

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.75

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.12

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.56 ISK 1,689

$6.58 €5.75

106.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.01

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.11

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.54 ISK 317

$2.08 €1.82

22.12%

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

$40.4K ISK 5.0M

$34.7K €30.3K

16.60%

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

$64.1K ISK 8.0M

$39.2K €34.2K

63.61%

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

$120 ISK 15.0K

$148 €129

-18.79%

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

$25.14 ISK 3,133

$20.46 €17.88

22.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$160 ISK 19.9K

$39.56 €34.56

304.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.0 ISK 10.5K

$47.99 €41.93

74.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.25

Cinema Ticket

$15.09 ISK 1,880

$9.22 €8.06

63.67%

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

$367 ISK 45.7K

$616 €538

-40.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.0 ISK 10.2K

$103 €89.7

-20.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.47

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ISK 14.9K

$94.8 €82.8

25.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,774 ISK 221.1K

$1,633 €1,426

8.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,782 ISK 222.0K

$1,232 €1,077

44.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,707

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 ISK 259.7K

$2,031 €1,775

2.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,329 ISK 788.6K

$7,831 €6,842

-19.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,340 ISK 790.0K

$4,389 €3,835

44.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,404

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.4

3.81

146.72%

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

Last update for Akureyri: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,774 in Akureyri versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $129 in Akureyri versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Akureyri vs $267 in Lisbon – so Akureyri wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Akureyri vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Akureyri is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,317 per month in Akureyri and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $129 in Akureyri and $63.0 in Lisbon. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Akureyri – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,878 in Akureyri and $2,291 in Lisbon. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Lisbon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Akureyri makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.