😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,391 in Sandefjord versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,522 in Sandefjord versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,654 in Sandefjord versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
😐Living in Sandefjord is roughly 8% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sandefjord78% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.02NOK 177
$15.91€13.69
19.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103NOK 953
$64.8€55.7
58.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.53NOK 126
$10.51€9.04
28.73%
Cappuccino
$5.03NOK 46.71
$2.87€2.47
75.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47NOK 22.96
$2.24€1.93
10.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13NOK 19.83
$1.50€1.29
42.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.37NOK 87.1
$3.49€3.00
168.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.15NOK 94.3
$3.88€3.34
161.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.41
$1.14€0.98
92.98%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.06
$1.75€1.51
72.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80NOK 26.02
$1.76€1.51
59.09%
Eggs
$3.69NOK 34.31
$3.22€2.77
14.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.51NOK 107
$13.49€11.61
-14.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.60NOK 154
$7.91€6.81
109.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.29NOK 328
$15.87€13.65
122.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71NOK 25.16
$2.31€1.99
17.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23NOK 20.69
$1.70€1.46
31.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35NOK 21.80
$2.01€1.73
16.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67NOK 34.11
$2.46€2.12
49.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11NOK 19.57
$1.84€1.59
14.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22NOK 20.62
$2.00€1.72
11.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64NOK 24.56
$1.93€1.66
36.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90NOK 17.61
$0.79€0.68
140.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.49NOK 135
$6.61€5.68
119.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56NOK 126
$5.72€4.92
137.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.70NOK 34.41
$1.37€1.17
170.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23NOK 39.33
$2.97€2.56
42.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.95NOK 45.96
$2.37€2.04
108.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.8NOK 667
$45.56€39.19
57.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.06NOK 93.5
$4.29€3.69
134.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.01
$0.82€0.70
70.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.4NOK 589
$18.30€15.74
246.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 20.49
$2.06€1.78
7.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KNOK 330.9K
$34.3K€29.5K
3.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KNOK 332.4K
$39.3K€33.8K
-8.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$220NOK 2,039
$148€127
48.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.75NOK 397
$20.52€17.65
108.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.61NOK 359
$39.61€34.08
-2.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.95NOK 445
$47.85€41.16
0.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.33NOK 328
$18.92€16.28
86.73%
Cinema Ticket
$12.87NOK 120
$9.18€7.90
40.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$287NOK 2,662
$614€528
-53.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,768NOK 44.3K
$16.0K€13.8K
-70.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103NOK 954
$105€90.0
-1.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.87NOK 435
$42.06€36.18
11.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9NOK 928
$94.0€80.8
6.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140NOK 1,305
$120€103
17.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,205NOK 11.2K
$1,628€1,400
-25.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$970NOK 9,011
$1,255€1,080
-22.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,447NOK 13.4K
$3,030€2,607
-52.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256NOK 11.7K
$2,020€1,738
-37.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,800€6,709
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,273€3,675
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandefjord
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,123NOK 38.3K
$1,603€1,379
157.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
3.81
14.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sandefjord: June 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,205 in Sandefjord and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sandefjord pays 157% 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: $103 in Sandefjord vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $454 vs $269 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
Sandefjord vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sandefjord and Lisbon?
Sandefjord and Lisbon differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,391 vs $2,210 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sandefjord or Lisbon?
Sandefjord pays 157% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Sandefjord and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,205 in Sandefjord versus $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sandefjord and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $287 in Sandefjord versus $614 in Lisbon. 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 69% higher in Sandefjord. 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 Sandefjord and Lisbon?
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 Sandefjord or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sandefjord and Lisbon 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: Sandefjord or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Sandefjord. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sandefjord vs other spots: cost of living compared