Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,210 a month against $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur, rent and utilities included – about $19,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
Lisbon, Portugal
Hafnarfjordur
🇮🇸 Iceland
$3,853
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hafnarfjordur and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hafnarfjordur and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,853 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,210 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Hafnarfjordur $3,853
  • Lisbon $2,210

A couple spends around $5,410 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $3,275 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Hafnarfjordur $5,410
  • Lisbon $3,275

A family of three spends $6,967 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $4,341 in Lisbon, rent included.

  • Hafnarfjordur $6,967
  • Lisbon $4,341

Hafnarfjordur costs about 74% more than Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Lisbon sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 183%, Lisbon by 62%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.04 ISK 3,768
$16.65 €14.92
86.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125 ISK 15.1K
$61.7 €55.3
102.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.40 ISK 1,991
$11.36 €10.18
44.37%
Cappuccino
$6.71 ISK 814
$2.97 €2.66
125.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 ISK 405
$2.29 €2.05
45.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 ISK 382
$1.74 €1.56
80.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$14.02 ISK 1,703
$3.40 €3.05
312.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.11 ISK 1,470
$3.31 €2.97
265.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ISK 203
$1.16 €1.04
43.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.21 ISK 511
$1.91 €1.71
120.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.71 ISK 450
$1.51 €1.36
145.70%
Eggs
$7.26 ISK 881
$4.02 €3.60
80.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.51 ISK 2,611
$12.94 €11.59
66.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.40 ISK 2,962
$7.77 €6.97
214.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$41.76 ISK 5,070
$17.76 €15.92
135.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ISK 394
$2.30 €2.06
40.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 ISK 301
$1.73 €1.55
43.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.19 ISK 388
$1.86 €1.66
71.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.41 ISK 779
$2.59 €2.32
147.49%
Potato (1kg)
$3.93 ISK 477
$1.82 €1.63
115.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 ISK 200
$1.97 €1.76
-16.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.69 ISK 448
$1.47 €1.32
151.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ISK 221
$0.72 €0.65
152.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.04 ISK 1,705
$6.58 €5.90
113.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.05 ISK 2,920
$5.61 €5.02
328.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.53 ISK 428
$1.36 €1.22
159.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 ISK 411
$2.14 €1.91
57.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.10 ISK 620
$2.33 €2.09
118.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
$44.68 €40.04
90.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.92 ISK 840
$3.85 €3.45
79.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.84 ISK 345
$1.07 €0.96
165.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$80.8 ISK 9,811
$16.46 €14.75
390.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.00 ISK 243
$2.20 €1.97
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$68.7K ISK 8.3M
$34.2K €30.6K
101.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.8K ISK 6.8M
$38.7K €34.7K
43.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.4 ISK 8,419
$161 €144
-56.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.65 ISK 3,964
$18.41 €16.50
77.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.0 ISK 10.3K
$32.74 €29.34
159.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.1 ISK 7,900
$44.55 €39.92
46.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10 €17.11
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.08 ISK 2,073
$9.60 €8.60
77.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,172 ISK 142.3K
$668 €598
75.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K ISK 3.1M
$17.6K €15.8K
46.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125 ISK 15.1K
$102 €91.4
22.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.1 ISK 8,150
$44.46 €39.85
51.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ISK 15.1K
$98.5 €88.3
26.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$246 ISK 29.9K
$124 €111
99.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,496 ISK 303.1K
$1,608 €1,441
55.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 ISK 251.8K
$1,190 €1,066
74.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,232 ISK 392.3K
$2,812 €2,520
14.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,670 ISK 324.2K
$2,013 €1,804
32.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,011 ISK 851.1K
$7,839 €7,025
-10.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,014 ISK 851.6K
$4,576 €4,100
53.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hafnarfjordur
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,674 ISK 567.4K
$1,575 €1,411
196.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.81
3.85
128.83%

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

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: October 24, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hafnarfjordur
$2.1K
Lisbon
$1.2K 42.6% $884
Groceries & Markets
Hafnarfjordur
$615
Lisbon
$272 55.7% $342
Eating Out
Hafnarfjordur
$498
Lisbon
$243 51.3% $256
Clothing & Footwear
Hafnarfjordur
$253
Lisbon
$166 34.5% $87
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hafnarfjordur
$187
Lisbon
$212 13.6% $25
Getting Around
Hafnarfjordur
$127
Lisbon
$63 50.1% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Hafnarfjordur
$99
Lisbon
$64 35.8% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,496 in Hafnarfjordur versus $1,608 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Hafnarfjordur are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $125 in Hafnarfjordur versus $62 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $615 vs $272 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇸 Hafnarfjordur
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
04:05 4:05 AM
04:05 4:05 AM
Same time as Hafnarfjordur
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,525
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to ISK – Icelandic Króna Converter

Icelandic Króna exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 121 ISK (1,000 ISK = 8.24 USD). 1 EUR = 136 ISK (1,000 ISK = 7.38 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hafnarfjordur Lisbon 2,940 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hafnarfjordur
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Hafnarfjordur vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hafnarfjordur or Lisbon?
Hafnarfjordur costs about 74% more than Lisbon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hafnarfjordur and in Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,780 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $3,315 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hafnarfjordur or Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lisbon, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,608 there versus $2,496 in Hafnarfjordur.
How much does it cost to live in Hafnarfjordur compared to Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,853 in Hafnarfjordur and $2,210 in Lisbon. That makes Lisbon about 43% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Hafnarfjordur compared to Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 47% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Hafnarfjordur or in Lisbon?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,210, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,853. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hafnarfjordur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Hafnarfjordur compared to Lisbon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Hafnarfjordur or to Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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