Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Tromso Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Tromso

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $2,929 in Tromso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $4,342 in Tromso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $5,756 in Tromso.

Living in Lisbon costs roughly 25% less than in Tromso, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 65% above, Tromso 119% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$32.45 NOK 301
-50.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$121 NOK 1,124
-46.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$15.08 NOK 140
-30.31%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$6.17 NOK 57.4
-53.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$4.58 NOK 42.52
-51.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$3.44 NOK 31.97
-56.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$11.21 NOK 104
-68.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$11.08 NOK 103
-64.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.42 NOK 22.45
-52.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$3.17 NOK 29.42
-44.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$3.28 NOK 30.46
-46.34%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.92 NOK 45.72
-34.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$11.34 NOK 105
18.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$15.48 NOK 144
-48.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$37.09 NOK 345
-57.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$3.92 NOK 36.42
-41.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.88 NOK 26.78
-40.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.75 NOK 34.82
-46.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$5.12 NOK 47.54
-51.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$3.08 NOK 28.65
-40.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$3.63 NOK 33.72
-44.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.69 NOK 24.98
-28.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.70 NOK 15.80
-53.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$15.05 NOK 140
-56.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$19.06 NOK 177
-69.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$3.64 NOK 33.78
-62.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$4.54 NOK 42.14
-34.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$4.79 NOK 44.49
-50.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$59.6 NOK 553
-23.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$12.88 NOK 120
-66.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.13 NOK 10.46
-27.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$52.1 NOK 484
-64.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$2.11 NOK 19.63
-2.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$32.6K NOK 302.8K
5.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$35.8K NOK 332.2K
9.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$245 NOK 2,279
-39.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$48.71 NOK 453
-57.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$77.2 NOK 717
-48.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$47.87 NOK 445
-0.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$39.54 NOK 367
-52.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$16.73 NOK 155
-45.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$336 NOK 3,118
82.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$7,362 NOK 68.4K
118.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$87.7 NOK 815
19.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$33.00 NOK 307
27.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$131 NOK 1,215
-28.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$135 NOK 1,258
-11.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$1,348 NOK 12.5K
20.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$1,268 NOK 11.8K
-1.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$2,614 NOK 24.3K
15.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,853 NOK 17.2K
9.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$9,264 NOK 86.1K
-15.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$5,545 NOK 51.5K
-22.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Tromso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$4,243 NOK 39.4K
-62.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.27
-10.77%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tromso: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $1,348 in Tromso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tromso pays 165% 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 Tromso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $502 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 Tromso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Tromso?
Lisbon and Tromso differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $2,929 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, Tromso earns 165% 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 Tromso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $1,348 in Tromso. 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 Tromso?
Childcare runs $614 in Lisbon versus $336 in Tromso. 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 Tromso. 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 Tromso?
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 Tromso safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Tromso 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 Tromso?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Tromso. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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