😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,613 in Torshavn versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,059 in Torshavn versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,505 in Torshavn versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Torshavn is roughly 13% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Torshavn90% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.35FOK 176
$17.30€14.87
58.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$158FOK 1,020
$63.3€54.4
149.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.85FOK 128
$11.39€9.79
74.28%
Cappuccino
$7.24FOK 46.71
$3.19€2.74
126.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42FOK 22.07
$2.45€2.10
39.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80FOK 18.08
$1.76€1.52
59.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.42FOK 60.7
$3.59€3.09
162.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.22FOK 59.5
$3.39€2.92
171.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32FOK 14.97
$1.24€1.06
87.10%
White Bread(500g)
$5.10FOK 32.87
$1.98€1.71
157.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.06FOK 19.71
$1.52€1.31
101.32%
Eggs
$6.45FOK 41.63
$4.04€3.47
59.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.16FOK 111
$13.54€11.64
26.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.67FOK 94.6
$8.39€7.21
74.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.51FOK 119
$18.25€15.69
1.42%
Apples(1kg)
$4.11FOK 26.50
$2.29€1.97
79.48%
Banana(1kg)
$5.79FOK 37.35
$1.74€1.50
232.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.12FOK 39.45
$1.86€1.60
229.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.23FOK 33.71
$2.63€2.26
98.86%
Potato(1kg)
$3.72FOK 23.99
$1.92€1.65
93.75%
Onion(1kg)
$4.83FOK 31.18
$2.09€1.80
131.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.38FOK 21.82
$1.44€1.24
134.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.81FOK 24.55
$0.84€0.72
353.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.86FOK 76.5
$6.78€5.83
74.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.79FOK 88.9
$5.71€4.91
141.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.13FOK 26.65
$1.38€1.18
199.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09FOK 19.92
$2.22€1.91
39.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.40€2.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.50FOK 203
$46.78€40.22
-32.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.52FOK 100
$4.17€3.59
272.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.14€0.98
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$17.68€15.20
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79FOK 11.54
$2.32€2.00
-22.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$35.3K€30.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$41.4K€35.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134FOK 862
$170€146
-21.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.04FOK 291
$19.34€16.62
132.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$93.4FOK 602
$33.64€28.92
177.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4FOK 370
$48.10€41.35
19.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.90€17.11
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.84FOK 109
$9.92€8.53
69.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$506FOK 3,263
$717€617
-29.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$17.5K€15.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$146FOK 939
$105€90.1
38.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4FOK 403
$46.95€40.36
32.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$171FOK 1,100
$103€88.9
64.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$253FOK 1,634
$124€107
104.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,143FOK 7,374
$1,677€1,441
-31.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$915FOK 5,899
$1,271€1,093
-28.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,906FOK 12.3K
$2,985€2,566
-36.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,441FOK 9,291
$1,992€1,713
-27.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,741FOK 30.6K
$7,826€6,728
-39.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,729FOK 30.5K
$4,658€4,004
1.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Torshavn
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,361FOK 21.7K
$1,583€1,361
112.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.79
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Torshavn: August 30, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,143 in Torshavn and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Torshavn pays 112% 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: $158 in Torshavn vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $533 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
Torshavn vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Torshavn and in Lisbon?
Torshavn and Lisbon differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($2,613 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: Torshavn or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 112% higher in Torshavn, 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 Torshavn and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,143 in Torshavn 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 Torshavn and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $506 in Torshavn 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 Torshavn. 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 Torshavn 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 Torshavn or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Torshavn 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: Torshavn or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Torshavn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.