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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $3,536 in Akranes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $5,655 in Akranes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $7,774 in Akranes.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 36% less than in Akranes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Akranes 166% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75 €13.74
$26.91 ISK 3,347
-41.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 €55.3
$146 ISK 18.2K
-56.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.45 €9.11
$22.78 ISK 2,834
-54.13%
Cappuccino
$2.91 €2.54
$5.95 ISK 740
-51.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$3.25 ISK 405
-29.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.31
$2.35 ISK 293
-36.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.11
$10.47 ISK 1,302
-66.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 €3.46
$7.99 ISK 994
-50.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.93 ISK 239
-44.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.03 ISK 252
-13.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$3.59 ISK 446
-52.65%
Eggs
$3.25 €2.83
$6.12 ISK 761
-46.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 €11.55
$17.79 ISK 2,212
-25.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 €6.72
$24.14 ISK 3,003
-68.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.77 €13.75
$41.83 ISK 5,203
-62.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.99
$3.37 ISK 419
-32.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 €1.44
$2.51 ISK 313
-33.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$3.12 ISK 388
-35.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$4.80 ISK 597
-48.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 €1.56
$3.67 ISK 456
-51.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 €1.80
$2.31 ISK 288
-10.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.72
$3.03 ISK 377
-34.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.73
$2.00 ISK 248
-58.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.71
$13.81 ISK 1,718
-52.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.85
$22.94 ISK 2,854
-75.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$2.88 ISK 358
-53.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 €2.62
$2.05 ISK 255
46.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 €1.98
$3.56 ISK 442
-36.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.35 €40.41
$71.3 ISK 8,870
-34.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$6.30 ISK 783
-32.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.06 ISK 131
-19.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.83 €16.41
$85.3 ISK 10.6K
-77.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 €1.76
$2.54 ISK 316
-20.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.5K
$46.8K ISK 5.8M
-25.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K €34.6K
$52.5K ISK 6.5M
-24.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$88.4 ISK 11.0K
67.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.89
$27.48 ISK 3,418
-25.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52 €34.46
$86.9 ISK 10.8K
-54.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.17 €42.00
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 €16.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.10 €7.93
$17.65 ISK 2,195
-48.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$615 €536
$319 ISK 39.7K
92.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.2K
$29.8K ISK 3.7M
-45.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €88.6
$139 ISK 17.3K
-27.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09 €36.69
$62.5 ISK 7,779
-32.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 €80.5
$186 ISK 23.1K
-50.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €106
$268 ISK 33.3K
-54.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 €1,405
$2,962 ISK 368.4K
-45.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 €1,093
$1,880 ISK 233.8K
-33.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,069 €2,676
$4,874 ISK 606.2K
-37.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,037 €1,776
$3,636 ISK 452.3K
-44.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,751 €6,757
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,286 €3,737
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,602 €1,396
$5,683 ISK 706.9K
-71.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
9.63
-60.44%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Last update for Akranes: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $2,962 in Akranes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Akranes pays 255% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $146 in Akranes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $562 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
Lisbon vs Akranes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Akranes?
Lisbon wins on cost – living expenses run 55% 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 Lisbon or in Akranes?
On paper, salaries run 255% lower in Akranes. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisbon compared to Akranes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $2,962 in Akranes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Akranes?
All in, you'll spend $2,280 per month in Lisbon versus $3,536 in Akranes – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon compared to Akranes?
A monthly transit pass in Lisbon runs roughly 54% 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 Lisbon or in Akranes?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Akranes?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lisbon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,280 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lisbon hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Akranes?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Akranes 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 55% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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