😐A single person spends $2,280 per month in Lisbon vs $1,716 in Halmstad, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,294 per month in Lisbon vs $2,700 in Halmstad, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,307 per month in Lisbon vs $3,684 in Halmstad, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 33% more than Halmstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Lisbon and Halmstad sit above the global median – Lisbon by 71%, Halmstad by 29%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.74
$13.70SEK 132
14.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.3
$75.0SEK 723
-15.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.11
$10.51SEK 101
-0.57%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.54
$4.89SEK 47.13
-40.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.00
$3.11SEK 30.02
-26.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.31
$2.46SEK 23.69
-39.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.11
$7.41SEK 71.4
-51.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.46
$6.51SEK 62.7
-39.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.51SEK 14.58
-28.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.54
$2.58SEK 24.85
-31.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$3.33SEK 32.11
-48.95%
Eggs
$3.25€2.83
$3.65SEK 35.18
-10.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.55
$11.71SEK 113
13.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.72
$9.33SEK 89.9
-17.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.75
$19.01SEK 183
-17.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.99
$3.08SEK 29.66
-25.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.44
$2.60SEK 25.04
-36.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.76
$2.91SEK 28.03
-30.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$4.34SEK 41.85
-43.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$1.55SEK 14.92
15.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.80
$1.62SEK 15.58
27.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.72
$2.14SEK 20.66
-7.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.73
$0.98SEK 9.48
-15.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.71
$7.05SEK 67.9
-7.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.85
$10.90SEK 105
-48.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$2.23SEK 21.54
-40.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.62
$2.57SEK 24.78
17.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.98
$2.93SEK 28.22
-22.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.41
$69.5SEK 670
-33.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.69
$5.21SEK 50.2
-18.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$1.60SEK 15.41
-46.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.41
$42.52SEK 410
-55.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.76
$1.93SEK 18.64
4.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.5K
$23.1KSEK 222.8K
51.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.6K
$21.1KSEK 203.4K
87.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€129
$138SEK 1,332
7.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.89
$25.72SEK 248
-20.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.46
$36.27SEK 350
8.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€42.00
$39.95SEK 385
20.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€16.03
$24.99SEK 241
-26.41%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.93
$17.23SEK 166
-47.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€536
$159SEK 1,535
286.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.2K
$4,185SEK 40.3K
289.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$90.1SEK 868
12.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.69
$36.52SEK 352
15.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€80.5
$97.9SEK 944
-5.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$152SEK 1,466
-19.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,405
$609SEK 5,872
164.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,093
$581SEK 5,598
115.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,676
$1,140SEK 11.0K
169.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,776
$1,026SEK 9,892
98.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,757
$4,348SEK 41.9K
78.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,737
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Halmstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,396
$2,312SEK 22.3K
-30.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.9
-2.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Halmstad: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,612 in Lisbon versus $609 in Halmstad. 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 44% higher in Halmstad, 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 $63.0 in Lisbon versus $75.0 in Halmstad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $338 – 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
Lisbon vs Halmstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisbon or Halmstad?
Lisbon costs about 33% more than Halmstad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lisbon and in Halmstad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,420 per month in Lisbon and $2,575 in Halmstad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lisbon or Halmstad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Halmstad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisbon or in Halmstad?
Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Lisbon – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Lisbon and in Halmstad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $75.0 in Halmstad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lisbon or in Halmstad?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Halmstad, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Lisbon at $2,280. In Halmstad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisbon or Halmstad?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Halmstad costs $1,716 versus $2,280 in Lisbon. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Lisbon compared to Halmstad?
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.
Should I move to Lisbon or to Halmstad?
If budget matters most, go with Halmstad. 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.