Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Oslo Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Oslo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $3,203 in Oslo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $4,686 in Oslo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $6,170 in Oslo.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 28% less than in Oslo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Oslo 140% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$25.37 NOK 245
-36.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$120 NOK 1,164
-47.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$14.96 NOK 145
-31.02%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$5.08 NOK 49.07
-44.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$4.10 NOK 39.66
-44.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$3.19 NOK 30.85
-50.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$12.37 NOK 120
-72.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$11.03 NOK 107
-63.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$2.40 NOK 23.24
-54.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$4.03 NOK 39.00
-56.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$3.67 NOK 35.50
-52.04%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$4.95 NOK 47.82
-35.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$13.66 NOK 132
-3.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$16.41 NOK 159
-51.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$31.39 NOK 303
-50.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$3.60 NOK 34.85
-34.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.63 NOK 25.44
-34.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$3.45 NOK 33.39
-41.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$5.07 NOK 48.98
-52.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.51 NOK 24.22
-29.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$2.71 NOK 26.22
-25.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$2.78 NOK 26.83
-30.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$2.41 NOK 23.25
-64.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$17.46 NOK 169
-62.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$18.64 NOK 180
-70.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$3.41 NOK 33.00
-61.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$4.35 NOK 42.06
-31.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$4.18 NOK 40.44
-45.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
$79.6 NOK 769
-42.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$10.20 NOK 98.6
-58.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.41 NOK 13.60
-42.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$41.75 NOK 404
-55.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$2.27 NOK 21.96
-8.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$36.7K NOK 354.3K
-5.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$42.3K NOK 409.3K
-7.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$296 NOK 2,863
-50.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$31.29 NOK 302
-34.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$55.5 NOK 536
-28.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$57.4 NOK 554
-16.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
$28.40 NOK 275
-34.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$18.01 NOK 174
-48.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$274 NOK 2,653
124.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$14.7K NOK 141.9K
11.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$103 NOK 999
-0.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$64.5 NOK 623
-35.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$121 NOK 1,169
-21.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$168 NOK 1,620
-27.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$1,700 NOK 16.4K
-3.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$1,441 NOK 13.9K
-14.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$2,677 NOK 25.9K
15.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$2,180 NOK 21.1K
-6.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$11.5K NOK 111.3K
-31.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$6,961 NOK 67.3K
-36.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
$4,256 NOK 41.1K
-62.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
5.08
-25.00%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Oslo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $1,700 in Oslo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oslo pays 165% 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 $120 in Oslo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $505 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 Oslo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Oslo?
Lisbon and Oslo differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $3,203 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 165% lower in Oslo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Oslo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $1,700 in Oslo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Oslo?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $274 in Oslo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in Oslo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is feasible on a $3,000 budget?
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.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Oslo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Oslo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Oslo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Oslo?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Oslo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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