Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalmar and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Kalmar and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,926 per month in Kalmar vs $2,291 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,839 per month in Kalmar vs $3,322 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,751 per month in Kalmar vs $4,354 in Lisbon, rent included.

Kalmar is about 16% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kalmar and Lisbon sit above the global median – Kalmar by 44%, Lisbon by 71%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.76 SEK 152
$16.19 €14.17
-2.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 SEK 722
$63.3 €55.4
17.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.34 SEK 100.0
$10.32 €9.03
0.19%
Cappuccino
$4.68 SEK 45.19
$2.83 €2.48
65.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 SEK 27.19
$2.29 €2.00
22.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 SEK 26.42
$1.58 €1.38
72.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.90 SEK 95.7
$3.40 €2.98
191.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59 SEK 73.3
$4.03 €3.52
88.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 SEK 14.55
$1.09 €0.95
37.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 SEK 23.95
$1.75 €1.53
41.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 SEK 26.23
$1.76 €1.54
53.98%
Eggs
$4.88 SEK 47.18
$3.17 €2.77
53.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 SEK 98.4
$13.19 €11.54
-22.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.54 SEK 112
$7.97 €6.97
44.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.07 SEK 155
$15.53 €13.59
3.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 25.80
$2.37 €2.07
12.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 SEK 26.44
$1.71 €1.49
59.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 SEK 30.63
$2.01 €1.76
57.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.78 SEK 36.54
$2.43 €2.13
55.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 SEK 14.36
$1.76 €1.54
-15.34%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 SEK 22.49
$2.03 €1.78
14.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 SEK 20.01
$1.92 €1.68
7.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 SEK 16.21
$0.85 €0.74
97.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 SEK 68.8
$6.58 €5.76
8.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.11 SEK 88.1
$5.58 €4.88
63.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 SEK 19.37
$1.33 €1.17
50.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 SEK 16.58
$2.97 €2.60
-42.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 SEK 28.82
$2.28 €1.99
30.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.1 SEK 842
$45.79 €40.06
90.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 SEK 68.5
$4.23 €3.70
67.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 SEK 15.40
$0.81 €0.71
96.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$52.6 SEK 509
$18.44 €16.13
185.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.91 SEK 18.42
$2.08 €1.82
-8.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K SEK 266.5K
$34.7K €30.3K
-20.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K SEK 271.5K
$39.2K €34.3K
-28.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 SEK 1,129
$148 €130
-21.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.56 SEK 276
$20.46 €17.90
39.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.64 SEK 296
$39.56 €34.61
-22.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.77 SEK 288
$47.99 €41.99
-37.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.73 SEK 152
$18.60 €16.27
-15.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.39 SEK 139
$9.22 €8.07
56.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 SEK 1,410
$616 €539
-76.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,077 SEK 39.4K
$16.4K €14.4K
-75.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 SEK 621
$103 €89.9
-37.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.00 SEK 203
$41.74 €36.52
-49.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.4 SEK 584
$94.8 €82.9
-36.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 SEK 734
$122 €107
-37.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 SEK 9,154
$1,633 €1,428
-41.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$812 SEK 7,845
$1,232 €1,078
-34.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,363 SEK 13.2K
$3,098 €2,711
-56.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 SEK 11.6K
$2,031 €1,777
-40.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,262 SEK 41.2K
$7,831 €6,851
-45.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,835 SEK 27.4K
$4,389 €3,840
-35.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kalmar
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,928 SEK 28.3K
$1,607 €1,406
82.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.66
3.81
22.31%

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

Last update for Kalmar: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Kalmar versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 82% higher in Kalmar, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Kalmar versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $267 – making Lisbon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Kalmar vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kalmar and in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,926 in Kalmar, $2,291 in Lisbon – roughly 19% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kalmar compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,889 per month in Kalmar and $3,437 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kalmar and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalmar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kalmar and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Kalmar and $616 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Kalmar, where all-in costs run around $1,926, than in Lisbon at $2,291. In Kalmar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kalmar and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,926 in Kalmar to $2,291 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kalmar or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Kalmar and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Kalmar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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