Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Stavanger Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Stavanger

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,744 in Stavanger.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $4,187 in Stavanger.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $5,629 in Stavanger.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 19% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Stavanger 105% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$25.49 NOK 237
-37.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$121 NOK 1,122
-46.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$15.31 NOK 142
-31.35%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$5.17 NOK 48.03
-44.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$4.04 NOK 37.57
-44.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$3.47 NOK 32.20
-56.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$11.15 NOK 104
-68.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$10.27 NOK 95.4
-62.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.45 NOK 22.73
-53.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$3.02 NOK 28.03
-42.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$4.56 NOK 42.38
-61.40%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.46 NOK 41.46
-27.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$13.11 NOK 122
2.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$16.72 NOK 155
-52.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$27.15 NOK 252
-41.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.58 NOK 33.26
-35.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.56 NOK 23.80
-33.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$2.98 NOK 27.72
-32.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$4.61 NOK 42.83
-46.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$2.09 NOK 19.42
-11.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$3.09 NOK 28.70
-35.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.50 NOK 23.27
-22.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.81 NOK 16.81
-56.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$15.37 NOK 143
-56.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$19.14 NOK 178
-70.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$3.63 NOK 33.70
-62.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$4.13 NOK 38.39
-28.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$4.66 NOK 43.31
-49.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$67.1 NOK 623
-32.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$14.97 NOK 139
-71.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$2.12 NOK 19.70
-61.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$99.8 NOK 927
-81.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.15 NOK 19.96
-4.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$34.0K NOK 315.8K
0.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$32.8K NOK 304.4K
19.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$191 NOK 1,778
-22.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$42.73 NOK 397
-51.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$81.9 NOK 761
-51.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$55.8 NOK 519
-14.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$35.64 NOK 331
-46.91%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$19.51 NOK 181
-52.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$318 NOK 2,957
92.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$12.8K NOK 118.6K
25.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$119 NOK 1,107
-12.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$58.3 NOK 542
-27.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$106 NOK 981
-10.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$157 NOK 1,460
-23.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$1,604 NOK 14.9K
1.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$1,115 NOK 10.4K
12.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$2,756 NOK 25.6K
9.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,738 NOK 16.1K
16.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$6,190 NOK 57.5K
26.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$5,435 NOK 50.5K
-21.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$4,992 NOK 46.4K
-67.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.51
-15.52%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,604 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stavanger pays 211% 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 $121 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $472 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 Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Stavanger?
Lisbon and Stavanger differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,744 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, Stavanger earns 211% 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 Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,604 in Stavanger. 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 Stavanger?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $318 in Stavanger. 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 75% higher in Stavanger. 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 Stavanger?
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 Stavanger safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Stavanger 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 Stavanger?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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