Cost of Living Comparison Between Tromso and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Tromso and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,207 in Tromso versus $2,268 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,683 in Tromso versus $3,348 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,158 in Tromso versus $4,429 in Lisbon.

Living in Tromso is roughly 41% more expensive than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tromso 133% above, Lisbon 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$35.31 NOK 328
$17.55 €15.12
101.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109 NOK 1,007
$64.5 €55.6
68.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.16 NOK 150
$11.65 €10.04
38.71%
Cappuccino
$6.89 NOK 64.0
$3.26 €2.81
111.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 NOK 45.15
$2.49 €2.15
95.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 NOK 34.69
$1.67 €1.44
123.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.76 NOK 118
$3.47 €2.99
267.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$14.21 NOK 132
$3.58 €3.08
296.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.49 NOK 23.11
$1.18 €1.02
111.02%
White Bread (500g)
$3.50 NOK 32.44
$1.95 €1.68
79.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.14 NOK 38.40
$1.56 €1.35
165.38%
Eggs
$5.27 NOK 48.93
$4.01 €3.46
31.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.44 NOK 115
$13.27 €11.44
-6.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.21 NOK 141
$8.42 €7.26
80.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.53 NOK 395
$18.23 €15.72
133.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.22 NOK 39.14
$2.32 €2.00
81.90%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 NOK 28.50
$1.73 €1.49
77.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.35 NOK 49.61
$1.93 €1.67
177.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.40 NOK 59.4
$2.64 €2.27
142.42%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 NOK 32.82
$1.90 €1.64
86.32%
Onion (1kg)
$5.08 NOK 47.11
$2.11 €1.82
140.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.12 NOK 28.93
$1.44 €1.24
116.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 NOK 20.20
$0.80 €0.69
172.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.38 NOK 152
$7.01 €6.04
133.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.47 NOK 153
$5.92 €5.11
178.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.06 NOK 37.62
$1.36 €1.18
198.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 NOK 44.28
$2.15 €1.85
121.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.06 NOK 46.94
$2.38 €2.05
112.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.2 NOK 642
$46.22 €39.85
49.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$16.36 NOK 152
$4.19 €3.61
290.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 NOK 19.76
$1.10 €0.95
93.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$57.6 NOK 534
$17.26 €14.88
233.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.27 NOK 21.02
$2.25 €1.94
0.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6K NOK 460.4K
$34.5K €29.7K
43.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.6K NOK 422.8K
$41.6K €35.9K
9.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 NOK 2,471
$171 €147
55.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.3 NOK 476
$19.01 €16.38
169.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.2 NOK 799
$34.28 €29.55
151.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 NOK 481
$49.65 €42.80
4.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.90 NOK 444
$19.51 €16.81
145.52%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98 NOK 167
$10.10 €8.71
78.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$329 NOK 3,048
$699 €603
-53.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,733 NOK 71.7K
$17.8K €15.3K
-56.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1 NOK 632
$105 €90.2
-34.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.40 NOK 328
$47.97 €41.35
-26.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$149 NOK 1,385
$102 €87.8
46.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 NOK 1,532
$128 €111
28.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 NOK 14.5K
$1,661 €1,432
-6.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,296 NOK 12.0K
$1,228 €1,059
5.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,781 NOK 25.8K
$2,915 €2,513
-4.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 NOK 18.9K
$2,023 €1,744
0.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,137 NOK 66.2K
$8,129 €7,007
-12.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,526 NOK 51.3K
$4,635 €3,996
19.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tromso
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,292 NOK 39.8K
$1,619 €1,396
165.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.01
3.78
32.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tromso: September 5, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,558 in Tromso and $1,661 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tromso pays 165% 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: $109 in Tromso vs $64.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 vs $281 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
Tromso vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tromso and in Lisbon?
Tromso and Lisbon differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($3,207 vs $2,268 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tromso or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 165% higher in Tromso, 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 Tromso and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,558 in Tromso versus $1,661 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 Tromso and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $329 in Tromso versus $699 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 97% higher in Tromso. 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 Tromso 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 Tromso or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tromso 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: Tromso or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Tromso. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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