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

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

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

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 40% less than in Akranes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55 €15.12
$30.03 ISK 3,617
-41.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 €55.6
$134 ISK 16.2K
-52.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 €10.04
$26.46 ISK 3,187
-55.97%
Cappuccino
$3.26 €2.81
$6.10 ISK 735
-46.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.15
$3.33 ISK 401
-25.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 €1.44
$2.50 ISK 301
-33.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 €2.99
$10.65 ISK 1,283
-67.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 €3.08
$8.11 ISK 977
-55.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.02
$2.03 ISK 245
-41.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.05 ISK 246
-4.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 €1.35
$3.52 ISK 424
-55.68%
Eggs
$4.01 €3.46
$6.29 ISK 757
-36.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 €11.44
$20.48 ISK 2,467
-35.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.42 €7.26
$24.90 ISK 2,999
-66.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.23 €15.72
$41.58 ISK 5,009
-56.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 €2.00
$3.42 ISK 412
-32.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.91 ISK 350
-40.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 €1.67
$3.18 ISK 383
-39.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.27
$5.03 ISK 606
-47.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.64
$3.99 ISK 480
-52.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$1.72 ISK 207
22.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$3.69 ISK 445
-60.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$1.78 ISK 215
-55.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.04
$13.94 ISK 1,680
-49.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.92 €5.11
$23.89 ISK 2,878
-75.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 €1.18
$2.89 ISK 348
-52.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 €1.85
$2.01 ISK 242
6.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 €2.05
$3.62 ISK 436
-34.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.22 €39.85
$74.9 ISK 9,027
-38.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.19 €3.61
$6.96 ISK 838
-39.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 €0.95
$1.26 ISK 152
-12.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.26 €14.88
$75.0 ISK 9,037
-77.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.97 ISK 237
14.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.7K
$52.1K ISK 6.3M
-33.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K €35.9K
$55.2K ISK 6.6M
-24.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$171 €147
$87.8 ISK 10.6K
94.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.01 €16.38
$33.25 ISK 4,005
-42.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.28 €29.55
$83.5 ISK 10.1K
-58.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.65 €42.80
$102 ISK 12.2K
-51.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.51 €16.81
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 €8.71
$19.75 ISK 2,379
-48.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$699 €603
$1,214 ISK 146.2K
-42.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.3K
$30.6K ISK 3.7M
-42.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.2
$160 ISK 19.3K
-34.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.97 €41.35
$65.9 ISK 7,933
-27.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.8
$180 ISK 21.7K
-43.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €111
$249 ISK 29.9K
-48.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,661 €1,432
$3,035 ISK 365.5K
-45.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 €1,059
$1,907 ISK 229.7K
-35.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 €2,513
$4,989 ISK 600.9K
-41.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,023 €1,744
$3,683 ISK 443.6K
-45.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,129 €7,007
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,635 €3,996
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Akranes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,619 €1,396
$5,858 ISK 705.6K
-72.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
8.88
-57.43%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Last update for Akranes: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,661 in Lisbon and $3,035 in Akranes. 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: $64.0 in Lisbon vs $134 in Akranes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $581 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 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.
Are salaries higher in Lisbon or in Akranes?
On paper, salaries run 262% 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: $1,661 in Lisbon versus $3,035 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 $2,268 per month in Lisbon versus $3,766 in Akranes – a 66% 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 62% 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 $2,268 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 66% less than in Akranes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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