February 5, 2026 
5 mins to read If you start working in Lisbon, life will be very different from working in Oslo. That is no surprise. There are some similarities between the two: they are the capital of their country, are located by the water, and both cities have a large expat community. In this blog we compare working in Lisbon vs working in Oslo. From the costs of living to salaries. Next to this we tell you all about social life in these two cities.
After this blog you will know the big differences between living and working in Lisbon vs Oslo. We hope this helps you in deciding what kind of city suits you best.
Why would we compare Lisbon and Oslo?
At first glance you would think that Lisbon and Oslo are completely different, so why would you compare the two? Well that’s mostly because of the popularity among expats. It’s not weird if, after some research, both these cities end up on your initial list for possible next destinations for your working abroad adventure. The differences between these cities show that ‘quality of life’ can have different meanings: One offers sunshine and cheap wine; the other offers high pay and social security. We zoom in on all factors that come with making the move abroad.
Job market & salaries
If you are looking for a job in Oslo, know that there is demand in sectors like IT, healthcare, and finance. In many roles they are looking for English-speaking expats. Lisbon’s economy is growing, especially in tech startups, tourism, hospitality,and education. The customer service market is big in Lisbon. You can always find a job there, in which you would be speaking your native language.
When we take a look at the average salaries in both cities, Oslo wins it. In Lisbon, the typical entry salary for expats would be around €1,500–€2,300 a month, while you will earn €3,700–€5,100 in Oslo.
Cost of Living
So why would you be a fool and start working in Lisbon, while there’s a lot more money to be earned in Oslo? Well first of all we would like to tell you that money isn’t everything. But also, earning a higher salary doesn’t mean you end up with more money. Below we list the most important costs of expat life in both Lisbon and Oslo. As you can see, life in Lisbon is much cheaper than life in Oslo.
| What | Costs in Lisbon | Costs in Oslo |
| Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center | ~€1,300 a month | ~€1,700 a month |
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | ~€10 | ~€20 |
| Cappuccino | ~€2 | ~€5 |
| Domestic beer (0.5 L) | ~€3 | ~€9 |
| Groceries | ~€180–€260 a month | ~€400–€450 a month |
| Cinema ticket | €7–€12 | €17-€19 |
| Gym membership | €30-€50 a month | €40-€60 a month |
Work culture & Work-life balance
The salary and costs of living are important while picking the best destination for working abroad, but there are so many more things about life abroad that you should think about. We look into the work culture and work-life balance in both cities and list a couple of pros and cons for Lisbon and Oslo:
Working in Oslo
- Pro: Overtime isn’t common. There’s a strong focus on finishing your working day on time. Evenings and weekends are respected by your employer.
- Pro: Flat hierarchy. You can talk to your manager as if you are equals.
- Pro: Low workplace stress. The environment will be calm, structured, and predictable.
- Con: Socially reserved office culture. People are friendly but not really chatty. It can feel quiet and distant at times. This makes it harder to form friendships with coworkers.
- Con: Slow decision making. Because everyone can say what they think, it can take long for decisions to be made. This can feel frustrating if you like decisive leadership.
Working in Lisbon
- Pro: Warm, friendly, and social workplaces. You will chat, eat together and build personal connections with your coworkers.
- Pro: Easy social integration. People are welcoming and the Portuguese speak quite good English.
- Pro: Relaxed daily vibe. Work is less focussed on rigid schedules, and more on human interaction.
- Con: Weaker work–life boundaries. Staying late or unpaid overtime can happen sometimes.
- Con: More hierarchical structures. Decisions often come from the top, which leaves less room for open disagreement.
Social life & Making friends
We talked about money and work, but life after work is just as important if you start living and working abroad. In general we would say that it is easier to make friends in Lisbon. The locals, and therefore the expats as well, are very open and friendly. The weather, with lots of sunshine and high temperatures, makes life happen outdoors. This creates a lot more social interaction with other people, which eventually leads to friendships abroad.
The locals in Oslo are more reserved. It takes more time to make friends while living there. Because of the colder weather, life is more indoor focussed. That makes it harder to meet new people, and therefore makes it a bit harder to make new friends. Small talk with strangers isn’t a normal thing in Oslo. Building relationships takes a lot of effort, and time.
Final thoughts
We aren’t here to tell you that working in Lisbon is better than working in Oslo, or the other way around. In this blog you could read more about the differences between the two cities. If you prefer good weather, a relaxed lifestyle but a hierarchical work environment, Lisbon is the place for you. Do you lean more towards a great work-life balance, a higher salary and professional development? Oslo might be better for you.
Want to know even more about these two cities? Read all you need to know about it on the personal pages we wrote about Lisbon and Oslo. And if you want to know even more information about living and working abroad in these two cities after reading these pages, contact our recruiters for more information. Already convinced you want that working abroad adventure? Browse our job offers and apply today.
