😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,744 in Stavanger versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,187 in Stavanger versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,629 in Stavanger versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
😐Living in Stavanger is roughly 24% more expensive than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger105% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.49NOK 237
$15.91€13.69
60.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,122
$64.8€55.7
86.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 142
$10.51€9.04
45.67%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 48.03
$2.87€2.47
80.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04NOK 37.57
$2.24€1.93
80.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.20
$1.50€1.29
131.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.15NOK 104
$3.49€3.00
219.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.27NOK 95.4
$3.88€3.34
164.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.73
$1.14€0.98
114.91%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02NOK 28.03
$1.75€1.51
72.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.56NOK 42.38
$1.76€1.51
159.09%
Eggs
$4.46NOK 41.46
$3.22€2.77
38.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.11NOK 122
$13.49€11.61
-2.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.72NOK 155
$7.91€6.81
111.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.15NOK 252
$15.87€13.65
71.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.26
$2.31€1.99
54.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.80
$1.70€1.46
50.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98NOK 27.72
$2.01€1.73
48.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61NOK 42.83
$2.46€2.12
87.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09NOK 19.42
$1.84€1.59
13.59%
Onion(1kg)
$3.09NOK 28.70
$2.00€1.72
54.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50NOK 23.27
$1.93€1.66
29.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81NOK 16.81
$0.79€0.68
129.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.37NOK 143
$6.61€5.68
132.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.14NOK 178
$5.72€4.92
234.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.63NOK 33.70
$1.37€1.17
164.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 38.39
$2.97€2.56
39.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.66NOK 43.31
$2.37€2.04
96.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.1NOK 623
$45.56€39.19
47.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.97NOK 139
$4.29€3.69
248.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12NOK 19.70
$0.82€0.70
158.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.8NOK 927
$18.30€15.74
445.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 19.96
$2.06€1.78
4.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KNOK 315.8K
$34.3K€29.5K
-0.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KNOK 304.4K
$39.3K€33.8K
-16.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191NOK 1,778
$148€127
29.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.73NOK 397
$20.52€17.65
108.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.9NOK 761
$39.61€34.08
106.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8NOK 519
$47.85€41.16
16.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.64NOK 331
$18.92€16.28
88.37%
Cinema Ticket
$19.51NOK 181
$9.18€7.90
112.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318NOK 2,957
$614€528
-48.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8KNOK 118.6K
$16.0K€13.8K
-20.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119NOK 1,107
$105€90.0
13.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3NOK 542
$42.06€36.18
38.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106NOK 981
$94.0€80.8
12.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,460
$120€103
31.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604NOK 14.9K
$1,628€1,400
-1.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115NOK 10.4K
$1,255€1,080
-11.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,756NOK 25.6K
$3,030€2,607
-9.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,738NOK 16.1K
$2,020€1,738
-13.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,190NOK 57.5K
$7,800€6,709
-20.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,435NOK 50.5K
$4,273€3,675
27.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,992NOK 46.4K
$1,603€1,379
211.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
3.81
18.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: May 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Stavanger and $1,628 in Lisbon. 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: $121 in Stavanger vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $472 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
Stavanger vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stavanger and Lisbon?
Stavanger and Lisbon differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,744 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: Stavanger or Lisbon?
Stavanger pays 211% 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 Stavanger and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Stavanger 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 Stavanger and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $318 in Stavanger 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 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 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 24% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.