🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,499 in Sandvika.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,877 in Sandvika.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $5,256 in Sandvika.
🙂Living in Lisbon costs roughly 9% less than in Sandvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Sandvika86% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$16.08NOK 153
-0.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$93.2NOK 885
-32.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$20.71NOK 197
-49.88%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$4.01NOK 38.08
-30.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$2.76NOK 26.15
-15.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.21NOK 20.96
-28.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$8.07NOK 76.6
-57.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$9.88NOK 93.7
-60.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$2.46NOK 23.37
-56.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$3.37NOK 31.98
-47.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.82NOK 17.24
-6.04%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$4.23NOK 40.18
-25.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$18.52NOK 176
-26.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$26.15NOK 248
-69.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$23.32NOK 221
-33.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.80NOK 26.59
-18.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.55NOK 24.19
-35.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$3.44NOK 32.68
-43.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.83NOK 36.36
-34.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.19NOK 20.82
-18.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$2.39NOK 22.70
-15.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$2.31NOK 21.90
-14.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.49NOK 14.14
-43.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$15.25NOK 145
-55.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$18.56NOK 176
-69.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$3.54NOK 33.56
-60.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$5.11NOK 48.55
-40.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$3.81NOK 36.12
-40.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$92.2NOK 875
-50.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$7.61NOK 72.2
-43.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.40NOK 13.26
-39.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$52.9NOK 502
-65.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$2.38NOK 22.59
-16.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$42.3KNOK 401.1K
-17.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$41.3KNOK 391.6K
-4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$238NOK 2,260
-38.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$30.79NOK 292
-33.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$62.2NOK 591
-37.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$60.4NOK 573
-18.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$35.11NOK 333
-46.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$20.08NOK 191
-52.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$297NOK 2,815
105.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$9,942NOK 94.4K
66.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$135NOK 1,285
-23.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$51.2NOK 486
-17.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$126NOK 1,199
-26.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$198NOK 1,876
-39.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$1,220NOK 11.6K
32.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$896NOK 8,506
41.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,797NOK 17.1K
69.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$1,561NOK 14.8K
28.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$8,515NOK 80.8K
-10.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$4,591NOK 43.6K
-5.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sandvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$5,057NOK 48.0K
-68.66%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Sandvika: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $1,220 in Sandvika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sandvika pays 219% 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 $93.0 in Sandvika for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $504 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 10% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $2,499 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 219% 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: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,220 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 $608 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 88% 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 $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,499 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 10% less than in Sandvika. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.