🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,465 in Sandefjord.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $3,546 in Sandefjord.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $4,627 in Sandefjord.
🌍Living in Lisbon costs roughly 7% less than in Sandefjord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Sandefjord84% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.17
$18.94NOK 183
-14.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.4
$103NOK 992
-38.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.03
$13.55NOK 131
-23.84%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$4.89NOK 47.19
-42.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$2.46NOK 23.68
-6.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$2.16NOK 20.78
-26.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$8.97NOK 86.5
-62.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.52
$9.87NOK 95.2
-59.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.95
$2.19NOK 21.09
-50.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$3.03NOK 29.19
-42.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.74NOK 26.44
-35.77%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.56NOK 34.29
-10.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.54
$11.36NOK 110
16.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.97
$16.37NOK 158
-51.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.59
$34.28NOK 331
-54.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.86NOK 27.58
-17.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.28NOK 21.98
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.31NOK 22.29
-12.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$3.60NOK 34.71
-32.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.07NOK 19.98
-14.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.22NOK 21.45
-8.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.63NOK 25.36
-27.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.91NOK 18.39
-55.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$14.30NOK 138
-53.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.88
$13.11NOK 126
-57.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$3.71NOK 35.73
-64.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$4.11NOK 39.66
-27.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$5.08NOK 49.02
-55.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.06
$69.8NOK 673
-34.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$10.15NOK 97.9
-58.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.46NOK 14.10
-44.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.13
$62.7NOK 604
-70.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$2.11NOK 20.35
-1.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.3K
$35.7KNOK 344.6K
-2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$35.3KNOK 340.2K
10.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$222NOK 2,144
-33.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.90
$44.21NOK 426
-53.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.61
$38.50NOK 371
2.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€41.99
$48.70NOK 470
-1.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.27
$35.19NOK 339
-47.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.07
$12.85NOK 124
-28.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€539
$286NOK 2,754
115.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$4,812NOK 46.4K
241.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.9
$104NOK 1,000
-0.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.52
$46.60NOK 449
-10.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€82.9
$102NOK 987
-7.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$140NOK 1,350
-12.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,428
$1,239NOK 11.9K
31.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,078
$992NOK 9,562
24.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,711
$1,483NOK 14.3K
108.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,777
$1,263NOK 12.2K
60.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,851
$6,234NOK 60.1K
25.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,840
$3,514NOK 33.9K
24.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sandefjord
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,406
$3,850NOK 37.1K
-58.25%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Sandefjord: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $1,239 in Sandefjord. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sandefjord pays 140% 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 $103 in Sandefjord for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $448 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 in Sandefjord?
Lisbon and Sandefjord differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $2,465 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 140% lower in Sandefjord. 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 Sandefjord?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $1,239 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 $616 in Lisbon versus $286 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 68% higher in Sandefjord. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,291 in Lisbon versus $2,465 in Sandefjord, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Sandefjord. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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.