Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Selfoss Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Selfoss

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $3,559 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $2,492 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $1,424 in Selfoss.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 36% less than in Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Selfoss 166% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 €14.17

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.3 €55.4

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.32 €9.03

$19.97 ISK 2,488

-48.32%

Cappuccino

$2.83 €2.48

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 €2.00

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 €1.38

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 €2.98

$11.83 ISK 1,474

-71.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 €3.52

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 €0.95

$1.69 ISK 210

-35.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 €1.53

$7.51 ISK 936

-76.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$4.32 ISK 538

-59.26%

Eggs

$3.17 €2.77

$6.46 ISK 806

-50.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 €11.54

$16.56 ISK 2,064

-20.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 €6.97

$20.80 ISK 2,591

-61.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.53 €13.59

$33.49 ISK 4,173

-53.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 €2.07

$2.63 ISK 328

-9.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 €1.49

$2.55 ISK 317

-32.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 €1.76

$2.67 ISK 333

-24.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 €2.13

$6.98 ISK 870

-65.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 €1.54

$3.22 ISK 401

-45.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 €1.78

$2.02 ISK 252

0.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 €1.68

$3.51 ISK 438

-45.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 €0.74

$1.38 ISK 172

-38.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 €5.76

$14.97 ISK 1,866

-56.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.58 €4.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 €1.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 €2.60

$1.10 ISK 137

170.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.28 €1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.79 €40.06

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 €3.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 €0.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.44 €16.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.08 €1.82

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K €30.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$39.2K €34.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 €130

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.46 €17.90

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.56 €34.61

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.99 €41.99

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.60 €16.27

Cinema Ticket

$9.22 €8.07

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$616 €539

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K €14.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 €89.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.74 €36.52

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.8 €82.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 €107

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 €1,428

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,232 €1,078

$2,927 ISK 364.7K

-57.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,098 €2,711

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 €1,777

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,831 €6,851

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,389 €3,840

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,607 €1,406

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.81

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: July 12, 2026

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 Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lisbon and Selfoss differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $3,559 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $5,339 in Selfoss to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 91% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $3,559 in Selfoss – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,291 in Lisbon versus $3,559 in Selfoss, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lisbon and Selfoss are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.