Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Hafnarfjordur Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Hafnarfjordur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,227 per month in Lisbon vs $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,305 per month in Lisbon vs $5,242 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,384 per month in Lisbon vs $6,816 in Hafnarfjordur, rent included.

Lisbon is about 39% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Hafnarfjordur sit above the global median – Lisbon by 66%, Hafnarfjordur by 174%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.81
$26.49 ISK 3,244
-38.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.1
$145 ISK 17.7K
-55.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.86
$15.93 ISK 1,951
-34.84%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$6.21 ISK 760
-55.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$3.37 ISK 413
-33.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.34
$2.63 ISK 322
-40.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.98
$12.82 ISK 1,570
-72.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.42
$11.07 ISK 1,356
-63.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.61 ISK 198
-32.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$4.26 ISK 522
-59.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.48
$3.70 ISK 453
-52.97%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.71
$6.29 ISK 770
-49.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.47
$18.50 ISK 2,266
-27.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.83
$24.21 ISK 2,965
-67.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.74
$42.07 ISK 5,152
-61.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$3.24 ISK 396
-29.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.47
$2.40 ISK 294
-28.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$3.00 ISK 367
-35.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.17
$4.93 ISK 603
-48.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.56
$3.51 ISK 430
-47.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.74
$2.32 ISK 285
-12.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$3.16 ISK 386
-37.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.93 ISK 237
-55.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.85
$13.78 ISK 1,687
-50.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.93
$22.71 ISK 2,782
-74.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$3.71 ISK 455
-63.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$3.32 ISK 407
-12.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$5.00 ISK 612
-54.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.00
$83.2 ISK 10.2K
-43.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.48
$6.31 ISK 772
-35.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.61 ISK 319
-68.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.60
$87.5 ISK 10.7K
-79.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.71
$2.51 ISK 308
-19.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.1K
$47.6K ISK 5.8M
-25.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$52.6K ISK 6.4M
-26.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$69.6 ISK 8,523
108.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.90
$27.48 ISK 3,366
-23.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.21
$84.3 ISK 10.3K
-52.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.66
$63.1 ISK 7,731
-22.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €15.97
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.74
$16.36 ISK 2,003
-44.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €518
$318 ISK 39.0K
90.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €13.9K
$30.3K ISK 3.7M
-46.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.4
$120 ISK 14.7K
-12.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €34.97
$60.6 ISK 7,423
-32.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €79.9
$121 ISK 14.8K
-22.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$263 ISK 32.3K
-55.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,370
$2,442 ISK 299.1K
-34.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,055
$2,047 ISK 250.7K
-39.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,601
$3,209 ISK 393.1K
-5.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,756
$2,523 ISK 309.0K
-18.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,583
$6,916 ISK 847.0K
11.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,644
$7,027 ISK 860.6K
-39.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Hafnarfjordur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,353
$4,789 ISK 586.5K
-66.92%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,604 in Lisbon versus $2,442 in Hafnarfjordur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 202% higher in Hafnarfjordur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon versus $145 in Hafnarfjordur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $590 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hafnarfjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Hafnarfjordur?
Hafnarfjordur costs about 65% more than Lisbon, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Lisbon vs Hafnarfjordur?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,341 per month in Lisbon and $5,501 in Hafnarfjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Hafnarfjordur?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Lisbon compared to Hafnarfjordur?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,227 in Lisbon and $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Lisbon vs Hafnarfjordur?
Public transport costs about 78% less in Lisbon. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Lisbon or Hafnarfjordur?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Lisbon, where all-in costs run around $2,227, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,667. In Lisbon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hafnarfjordur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Hafnarfjordur?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lisbon costs $2,227 versus $3,667 in Hafnarfjordur. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Hafnarfjordur?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or Hafnarfjordur?
If budget matters most, go with Lisbon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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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