Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sandvika Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Sandvika

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,719 in Sandvika.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $4,113 in Sandvika.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $5,506 in Sandvika.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 16% less than in Sandvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Sandvika 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$17.23 NOK 162
2.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$99.9 NOK 941
-37.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$22.03 NOK 208
-47.44%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$4.17 NOK 39.30
-25.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$2.93 NOK 27.60
-15.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$2.37 NOK 22.33
-26.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$8.48 NOK 79.9
-58.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$10.63 NOK 100
-67.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$2.50 NOK 23.58
-54.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$3.64 NOK 34.32
-47.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$3.90 NOK 36.79
-61.54%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$5.04 NOK 47.53
-21.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$13.37 NOK 126
-0.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$27.24 NOK 257
-70.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$25.30 NOK 238
-28.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$3.44 NOK 32.41
-31.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.66 NOK 25.05
-34.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$3.54 NOK 33.36
-47.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$4.90 NOK 46.14
-47.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$2.59 NOK 24.43
-28.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$3.29 NOK 30.97
-36.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$2.45 NOK 23.07
-39.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.64 NOK 15.42
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$16.23 NOK 153
-56.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$18.83 NOK 177
-68.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$3.94 NOK 37.13
-66.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$5.39 NOK 50.8
-60.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$4.13 NOK 38.89
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$84.4 NOK 795
-44.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$8.07 NOK 76.0
-49.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.65 NOK 15.52
-30.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$56.0 NOK 528
-69.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$2.54 NOK 23.96
-9.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$43.2K NOK 407.3K
-21.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$44.2K NOK 416.9K
-6.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$275 NOK 2,590
-38.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$32.45 NOK 306
-40.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$66.9 NOK 631
-49.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$65.3 NOK 615
-25.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$36.95 NOK 348
-47.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$21.60 NOK 204
-55.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$310 NOK 2,924
124.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$13.3K NOK 125.8K
30.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$145 NOK 1,369
-27.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$63.5 NOK 598
-24.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$132 NOK 1,245
-23.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$213 NOK 2,008
-41.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$1,216 NOK 11.5K
36.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$979 NOK 9,226
27.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$2,061 NOK 19.4K
43.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$1,735 NOK 16.4K
18.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$8,462 NOK 79.7K
-7.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$4,608 NOK 43.4K
-3.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$5,561 NOK 52.4K
-70.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
5.03
-24.85%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sandvika: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,216 in Sandvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sandvika pays 241% 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 $100 in Sandvika for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $533 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 Sandvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sandvika?
Lisbon and Sandvika differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $2,719 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 241% lower in Sandvika. 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 Sandvika?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,216 in Sandvika. 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 Sandvika?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $310 in Sandvika. 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 92% higher in Sandvika. 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 Sandvika?
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 Sandvika safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sandvika 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 Sandvika?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Sandvika. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lisbon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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