🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,512 in Sandvika.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $3,866 in Sandvika.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $5,220 in Sandvika.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 11% less than in Sandvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Sandvika88% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$16.28NOK 152
-0.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$94.3NOK 879
-31.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$20.76NOK 194
-50.00%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$3.96NOK 36.88
-30.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.87NOK 26.76
-21.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.29NOK 21.33
-31.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$8.06NOK 75.1
-56.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$9.50NOK 88.6
-57.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$2.41NOK 22.49
-55.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$3.45NOK 32.13
-49.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$1.90NOK 17.74
-8.42%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$4.20NOK 39.17
-24.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$18.62NOK 174
-27.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$25.89NOK 241
-69.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$23.46NOK 219
-31.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$2.69NOK 25.06
-15.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.41NOK 22.45
-28.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$3.55NOK 33.06
-45.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$3.64NOK 33.89
-30.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$2.16NOK 20.18
-15.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.42NOK 22.59
-15.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$2.26NOK 21.04
-12.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.51NOK 14.04
-43.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$15.21NOK 142
-54.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$19.25NOK 179
-69.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$3.61NOK 33.63
-62.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$5.29NOK 49.30
-45.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$3.77NOK 35.17
-39.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$89.8NOK 837
-47.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$7.99NOK 74.5
-48.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.36NOK 12.66
-39.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$52.0NOK 484
-64.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$2.29NOK 21.36
-12.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$42.0KNOK 391.0K
-15.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$41.6KNOK 387.5K
-7.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$243NOK 2,265
-40.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$29.89NOK 279
-29.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$63.9NOK 595
-37.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$60.8NOK 566
-19.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$35.14NOK 327
-46.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$20.09NOK 187
-54.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$297NOK 2,772
103.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$10.2KNOK 94.9K
60.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$135NOK 1,255
-22.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$49.70NOK 463
-17.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$126NOK 1,175
-25.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$200NOK 1,868
-40.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$1,219NOK 11.4K
31.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$905NOK 8,436
36.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$1,806NOK 16.8K
68.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,560NOK 14.5K
31.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$8,382NOK 78.1K
-8.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$4,525NOK 42.2K
-5.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
$5,337NOK 49.7K
-70.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.8
-20.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Sandvika: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $1,219 in Sandvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sandvika pays 237% 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 $94.0 in Sandvika for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 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 Sandvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Sandvika?
Lisbon and Sandvika differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $2,512 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, Sandvika earns 237% 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 Sandvika?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $1,219 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $297 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 86% higher in Sandvika. 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 $2,227 in Lisbon versus $2,512 in Sandvika, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Sandvika. 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 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 13% less than in Sandvika. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.