😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,478 in Tonsberg versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,681 in Tonsberg versus $3,289 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,885 in Tonsberg versus $4,369 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Tonsberg is roughly 12% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tonsberg85% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.36NOK 243
$15.71€13.76
61.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 980
$62.9€55.1
62.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.89NOK 133
$10.53€9.23
31.91%
Cappuccino
$4.79NOK 45.97
$2.88€2.53
66.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15NOK 49.42
$2.25€1.97
128.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94NOK 47.35
$1.56€1.36
216.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.96NOK 95.5
$3.39€2.97
193.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.66NOK 92.6
$3.90€3.41
147.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 21.15
$1.08€0.95
104.63%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39NOK 32.51
$1.73€1.51
95.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20NOK 30.70
$1.76€1.54
81.82%
Eggs
$4.33NOK 41.49
$3.16€2.77
37.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95NOK 115
$13.29€11.64
-10.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.90NOK 143
$7.87€6.89
89.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.98NOK 268
$15.84€13.88
76.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.52NOK 33.80
$2.40€2.11
46.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41NOK 23.09
$1.70€1.49
41.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25NOK 31.20
$2.03€1.78
60.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.41NOK 42.26
$2.52€2.21
75.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45NOK 23.46
$1.86€1.63
31.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.47NOK 23.66
$2.06€1.81
19.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74NOK 26.24
$2.00€1.75
37.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91NOK 18.33
$0.78€0.68
144.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.95NOK 143
$6.65€5.82
124.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.33NOK 185
$5.78€5.06
234.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.41NOK 32.66
$1.38€1.21
147.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 39.62
$3.02€2.64
36.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.18NOK 40.06
$2.33€2.04
79.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.3NOK 694
$45.45€39.82
59.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.16NOK 97.5
$4.08€3.57
149.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.42
$0.80€0.70
75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.45NOK 455
$18.65€16.34
154.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 20.14
$2.00€1.75
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KNOK 334.2K
$35.4K€31.0K
-1.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7KNOK 371.6K
$39.1K€34.2K
-0.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$237NOK 2,272
$150€132
57.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.87NOK 363
$20.55€18.01
84.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3NOK 521
$39.45€34.56
37.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.98NOK 479
$48.06€42.11
4.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.76NOK 343
$18.70€16.38
91.23%
Cinema Ticket
$16.26NOK 156
$9.30€8.15
74.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285NOK 2,734
$628€550
-54.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KNOK 96.1K
$16.5K€14.4K
-39.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0NOK 921
$102€89.0
-5.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9NOK 498
$41.55€36.40
24.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110NOK 1,052
$92.5€81.0
18.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152NOK 1,462
$123€107
24.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,226NOK 11.8K
$1,628€1,426
-24.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$935NOK 8,966
$1,233€1,080
-24.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,438NOK 13.8K
$3,126€2,739
-53.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203NOK 11.5K
$2,058€1,803
-41.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,119NOK 49.1K
$7,762€6,801
-34.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,108NOK 39.4K
$4,386€3,843
-6.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tonsberg
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,407NOK 42.3K
$1,621€1,420
171.81%
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 Tonsberg: July 21, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,226 in Tonsberg and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tonsberg pays 172% 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: $102 in Tonsberg vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $458 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
Tonsberg vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tonsberg and in Lisbon?
Tonsberg and Lisbon differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,478 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: Tonsberg or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 172% higher in Tonsberg, 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 Tonsberg and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,226 in Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $285 in Tonsberg versus $628 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 70% higher in Tonsberg. 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 Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tonsberg 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: Tonsberg or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Tonsberg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.