Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gavle and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Gavle: $1,439 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Gavle
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,439
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gavle and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gavle and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,439 in Gavle versus $2,202 in Lisbon.

  • Gavle $1,439
  • Lisbon $2,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Gavle versus $3,274 in Lisbon.

  • Gavle $2,286
  • Lisbon $3,274

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,134 in Gavle versus $4,346 in Lisbon.

  • Gavle $3,134
  • Lisbon $4,346

Living in Gavle costs roughly 35% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gavle 6% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.69 SEK 136
$17.04 €15.15
-19.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4 SEK 786
$62.3 €55.4
27.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.31 SEK 92.2
$11.02 €9.80
-15.52%
Cappuccino
$4.42 SEK 43.79
$3.12 €2.78
41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 SEK 20.51
$2.27 €2.02
-8.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 SEK 18.95
$1.74 €1.55
9.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 SEK 77.2
$3.42 €3.04
127.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.75 SEK 76.8
$3.74 €3.33
107.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 SEK 16.12
$1.17 €1.04
39.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 SEK 25.84
$1.86 €1.66
40.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 SEK 36.95
$1.54 €1.37
142.21%
Eggs
$3.81 SEK 37.80
$4.06 €3.61
-6.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.13 SEK 90.4
$12.91 €11.49
-29.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.29 SEK 102
$7.90 €7.03
30.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.73 SEK 186
$17.64 €15.69
6.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 SEK 30.25
$2.26 €2.01
34.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.74 SEK 27.16
$1.75 €1.55
56.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 SEK 32.43
$1.89 €1.68
73.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 SEK 43.07
$2.56 €2.27
69.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 SEK 17.12
$1.85 €1.64
-6.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 SEK 17.99
$1.97 €1.75
-7.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.55 SEK 25.26
$1.45 €1.29
75.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 SEK 20.35
$0.77 €0.69
166.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.99 SEK 79.1
$6.71 €5.97
19.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 SEK 110
$5.67 €5.04
96.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 SEK 16.23
$1.37 €1.22
19.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 SEK 15.34
$2.11 €1.88
-26.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.25 SEK 32.22
$2.32 €2.07
40.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.4 SEK 598
$44.43 €39.52
35.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.52 SEK 44.83
$3.95 €3.51
14.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 SEK 15.16
$1.05 €0.93
45.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.87 SEK 336
$17.15 €15.26
97.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 SEK 17.90
$2.19 €1.95
-17.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K SEK 255.2K
$33.8K €30.0K
-23.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K SEK 278.1K
$38.3K €34.0K
-26.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.6 SEK 551
$164 €146
-66.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.93 SEK 217
$18.48 €16.43
18.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.60 SEK 392
$32.96 €29.32
20.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.32 SEK 469
$45.87 €40.80
3.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.68 €16.61
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.22 SEK 151
$9.75 €8.67
56.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$133 SEK 1,321
$684 €608
-80.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K SEK 151.1K
$17.6K €15.7K
-13.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6 SEK 699
$104 €92.3
-31.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 SEK 583
$46.20 €41.09
27.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.9 SEK 505
$99.7 €88.7
-48.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 SEK 887
$125 €111
-28.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 SEK 5,738
$1,589 €1,414
-63.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$425 SEK 4,208
$1,169 €1,040
-63.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$762 SEK 7,546
$2,851 €2,536
-73.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 SEK 6,593
$1,993 €1,773
-66.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,945 SEK 19.3K
$7,793 €6,932
-75.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,333 SEK 13.2K
$4,418 €3,930
-69.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gavle
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,144 SEK 31.1K
$1,600 €1,423
96.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.37
3.85
-12.47%

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

Last update for Gavle: October 17, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gavle
$425
Lisbon
$1.2K 175% $744
Groceries & Markets
Gavle
$351
Lisbon
$273 22.3% $78
Eating Out
Gavle
$261
Lisbon
$247 5.2% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Gavle
$121
Lisbon
$168 38.8% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gavle
$117
Lisbon
$215 83.7% $98
Getting Around
Gavle
$86
Lisbon
$63 26.5% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Gavle
$78
Lisbon
$65 15.9% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $579 in Gavle and $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gavle pays 96% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $79.0 in Gavle vs $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $273 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Gavle
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
09:44 9:44 AM
08:44 8:44 AM
1 h behind Gavle
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
100,000
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gavle Lisbon 3,050 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Gavle
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gavle vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Gavle and in Lisbon?
Gavle and Lisbon differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($1,439 vs $2,202 including rent). Gavle is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Gavle or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 96% higher in Gavle, 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 Gavle and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $579 in Gavle versus $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Gavle and in Lisbon?
A monthly transit pass in Gavle runs roughly 36% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Gavle and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $133 in Gavle versus $684 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,439 in Gavle versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Gavle but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Gavle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Gavle 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 Gavle or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Gavle 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: Gavle or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Gavle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Gavle vs other spots: cost of living compared

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