🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,391 in Sandefjord.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $3,522 in Sandefjord.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $4,654 in Sandefjord.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 8% less than in Sandefjord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon65% above, Sandefjord78% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.70
$19.02NOK 177
-16.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.8
$103NOK 955
-36.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.05
$13.53NOK 126
-22.32%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$5.03NOK 46.80
-42.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$2.47NOK 23.01
-9.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$2.13NOK 19.87
-29.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.01
$9.37NOK 87.2
-62.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$10.15NOK 94.5
-61.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$2.20NOK 20.45
-48.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$3.02NOK 28.12
-42.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.80NOK 26.08
-37.14%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$3.69NOK 34.38
-12.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.62
$11.51NOK 107
17.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$16.60NOK 155
-52.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.67
$35.29NOK 328
-55.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$2.71NOK 25.21
-14.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.23NOK 20.73
-23.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.35NOK 21.85
-14.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$3.67NOK 34.18
-32.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.11NOK 19.61
-12.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.22NOK 20.67
-9.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$2.64NOK 24.61
-26.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.90NOK 17.65
-58.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.69
$14.49NOK 135
-54.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.93
$13.56NOK 126
-57.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$3.70NOK 34.48
-62.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$4.23NOK 39.42
-29.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$4.95NOK 46.05
-52.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.23
$71.8NOK 668
-36.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$10.06NOK 93.7
-57.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.40NOK 13.04
-41.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.76
$63.4NOK 590
-71.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$2.21NOK 20.53
-6.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$35.6KNOK 331.6K
-3.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$35.8KNOK 333.1K
9.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$220NOK 2,044
-32.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.67
$42.75NOK 398
-52.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.11
$38.61NOK 359
2.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.20
$47.95NOK 446
-0.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.29
$35.33NOK 329
-46.45%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.91
$12.87NOK 120
-28.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€529
$287NOK 2,667
114.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,768NOK 44.4K
236.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$103NOK 956
1.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.22
$46.87NOK 436
-10.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.9
$99.9NOK 930
-5.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$140NOK 1,308
-14.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,402
$1,205NOK 11.2K
35.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,081
$970NOK 9,030
29.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,609
$1,447NOK 13.5K
109.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,740
$1,256NOK 11.7K
60.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,716
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,679
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,381
$4,123NOK 38.4K
-61.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.38
-13.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sandefjord: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,205 in Sandefjord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sandefjord pays 157% 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 $103 in Sandefjord for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $454 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 Sandefjord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sandefjord?
Lisbon and Sandefjord differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,391 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, Sandefjord earns 157% 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 Sandefjord?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,205 in Sandefjord. 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 Sandefjord?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $287 in Sandefjord. 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 69% higher in Sandefjord. 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 Sandefjord?
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 Sandefjord safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sandefjord 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 Sandefjord?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Sandefjord. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.