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: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $3,141 in Oslo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $4,597 in Oslo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $6,053 in Oslo.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 30% less than in Oslo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Oslo 134% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.70
$25.53 NOK 238
-37.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.8
$123 NOK 1,144
-47.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.05
$15.15 NOK 141
-30.63%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$4.86 NOK 45.41
-40.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$4.08 NOK 38.14
-45.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$3.19 NOK 29.79
-52.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.01
$12.02 NOK 112
-70.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$11.22 NOK 105
-65.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.39 NOK 22.35
-52.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$4.09 NOK 38.17
-57.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.66 NOK 34.19
-51.91%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$5.03 NOK 47.00
-35.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$13.46 NOK 126
0.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$16.04 NOK 150
-50.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.67
$30.76 NOK 287
-48.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.49 NOK 32.63
-33.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.63 NOK 24.53
-35.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.35 NOK 31.32
-40.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$5.16 NOK 48.20
-52.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.43 NOK 22.69
-24.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.71 NOK 25.33
-26.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.85 NOK 26.61
-32.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$2.34 NOK 21.84
-66.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.69
$17.19 NOK 160
-61.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.93
$18.93 NOK 177
-69.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$3.35 NOK 31.28
-59.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$4.38 NOK 40.87
-32.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$4.31 NOK 40.20
-45.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.22
$77.9 NOK 727
-41.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$10.04 NOK 93.8
-57.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.38 NOK 12.93
-40.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.76
$42.24 NOK 394
-56.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.18 NOK 20.34
-5.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$36.5K NOK 340.5K
-6.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$42.7K NOK 398.5K
-7.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$304 NOK 2,834
-51.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.67
$31.63 NOK 295
-35.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.10
$57.0 NOK 532
-30.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.19
$57.8 NOK 539
-17.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.29
$28.64 NOK 267
-33.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.91
$18.01 NOK 168
-49.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €529
$274 NOK 2,556
124.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$14.5K NOK 135.8K
10.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.1
$106 NOK 987
-1.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.21
$65.4 NOK 611
-35.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.9
$124 NOK 1,158
-24.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$168 NOK 1,572
-28.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,401
$1,671 NOK 15.6K
-2.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,081
$1,446 NOK 13.5K
-13.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,609
$2,749 NOK 25.7K
10.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,739
$2,165 NOK 20.2K
-6.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,715
$12.0K NOK 112.2K
-35.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,678
$7,295 NOK 68.1K
-41.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Oslo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,380
$4,411 NOK 41.2K
-63.65%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Oslo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,671 in Oslo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oslo pays 175% 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: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $122 in Oslo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $500 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 Oslo?
Lisbon and Oslo differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $3,141 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, Oslo earns 175% less. 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 Oslo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,671 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 $614 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 86% 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 42% less than in Oslo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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