😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,179 in Stavanger versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,668 in Stavanger versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,158 in Stavanger versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 37% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger131% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.10NOK 243
$17.30€14.93
50.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100NOK 932
$63.3€54.6
58.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.98NOK 149
$11.39€9.83
40.30%
Cappuccino
$6.53NOK 60.9
$3.19€2.75
104.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57NOK 51.9
$2.45€2.11
127.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55NOK 42.35
$1.76€1.52
158.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.62NOK 127
$3.59€3.10
279.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.09NOK 113
$3.39€2.93
256.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.49NOK 23.19
$1.24€1.07
100.81%
White Bread(500g)
$3.60NOK 33.58
$1.98€1.71
81.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 36.86
$1.52€1.31
160.53%
Eggs
$4.97NOK 46.34
$4.04€3.49
23.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.64NOK 136
$13.54€11.68
8.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.53NOK 163
$8.39€7.24
108.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.75NOK 333
$18.25€15.75
95.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70NOK 34.49
$2.29€1.98
61.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86NOK 26.62
$1.74€1.50
64.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.32
$1.86€1.60
92.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.90NOK 45.61
$2.63€2.27
86.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.27
$1.92€1.65
35.42%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17NOK 29.53
$2.09€1.81
51.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.90NOK 27.05
$1.44€1.24
101.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31NOK 21.54
$0.84€0.73
175.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.65NOK 164
$6.78€5.85
160.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.17NOK 179
$5.71€4.93
235.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.85NOK 35.86
$1.38€1.19
178.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61NOK 42.91
$2.22€1.91
107.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.89NOK 45.59
$2.40€2.07
103.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1NOK 812
$46.78€40.37
86.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.48NOK 60.4
$4.17€3.60
55.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78NOK 16.62
$1.14€0.98
56.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$105NOK 980
$17.68€15.26
494.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32NOK 21.66
$2.32€2.01
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.7KNOK 454.0K
$35.3K€30.5K
37.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8KNOK 389.7K
$41.4K€35.8K
0.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257NOK 2,397
$170€147
51.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.59NOK 332
$19.34€16.69
84.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.9NOK 791
$33.64€29.03
152.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6NOK 490
$48.10€41.50
9.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.90NOK 344
$19.90€17.17
85.43%
Cinema Ticket
$22.33NOK 208
$9.92€8.56
125.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$325NOK 3,029
$717€619
-54.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KNOK 134.0K
$17.5K€15.1K
-17.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$126NOK 1,173
$105€90.4
20.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7NOK 566
$46.95€40.51
29.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$155NOK 1,445
$103€89.2
49.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203NOK 1,893
$124€107
63.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,746NOK 16.3K
$1,677€1,447
4.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,387NOK 12.9K
$1,271€1,097
9.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,840NOK 26.5K
$2,985€2,575
-4.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,044NOK 19.0K
$1,992€1,719
2.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,241NOK 58.1K
$7,826€6,753
-20.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,530NOK 51.5K
$4,658€4,019
18.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,111NOK 47.6K
$1,583€1,366
222.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
3.79
39.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,746 in Stavanger and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 223% 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: $100 in Stavanger vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $530 vs $283 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
Stavanger vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stavanger and in Lisbon?
Stavanger and Lisbon differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($3,179 vs $2,316 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Stavanger or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 223% higher in Stavanger, 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 Stavanger and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,746 in Stavanger versus $1,677 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 Stavanger and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $325 in Stavanger versus $717 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 88% 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 Stavanger 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 Stavanger or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Stavanger 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: Stavanger or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.