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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,862 in Kalmar, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $2,801 in Kalmar, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $3,740 in Kalmar, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 19% more than Kalmar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Kalmar sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Kalmar by 39%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91 €13.69
$16.05 SEK 150
-0.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8 €55.7
$74.3 SEK 693
-12.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 €9.04
$10.56 SEK 98.6
-0.47%
Cappuccino
$2.87 €2.47
$4.56 SEK 42.55
-37.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 €1.93
$2.89 SEK 26.97
-22.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$2.66 SEK 24.85
-43.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €3.00
$9.71 SEK 90.6
-64.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 €3.34
$7.43 SEK 69.3
-47.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.48 SEK 13.77
-22.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.51
$2.39 SEK 22.28
-26.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.58 SEK 24.05
-31.78%
Eggs
$3.22 €2.77
$4.88 SEK 45.52
-34.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.49 €11.61
$10.36 SEK 96.7
30.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.91 €6.81
$11.73 SEK 109
-32.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.87 €13.65
$16.15 SEK 151
-1.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €1.99
$2.62 SEK 24.42
-11.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 €1.46
$2.79 SEK 26.03
-39.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.73
$3.12 SEK 29.16
-35.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$3.70 SEK 34.51
-33.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.43 SEK 13.33
28.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.34 SEK 21.87
-14.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 €1.66
$2.06 SEK 19.19
-6.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 €0.68
$1.66 SEK 15.44
-52.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61 €5.68
$7.30 SEK 68.1
-9.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$9.90 SEK 92.4
-42.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$2.11 SEK 19.71
-35.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.56
$1.66 SEK 15.48
78.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$2.83 SEK 26.39
-16.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.56 €39.19
$86.2 SEK 804
-47.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 €3.69
$7.25 SEK 67.6
-40.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.56 SEK 14.53
-47.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.30 €15.74
$52.6 SEK 491
-65.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.06 €1.78
$1.95 SEK 18.19
5.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K €29.5K
$27.5K SEK 256.4K
24.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K €33.8K
$28.1K SEK 262.2K
39.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €127
$118 SEK 1,104
24.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52 €17.65
$28.08 SEK 262
-26.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61 €34.08
$30.58 SEK 285
29.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.85 €41.16
$29.43 SEK 275
62.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 €16.28
$15.57 SEK 145
21.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18 €7.90
$14.22 SEK 133
-35.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$614 €528
$145 SEK 1,357
322.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K €13.8K
$4,155 SEK 38.8K
286.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.0
$63.8 SEK 595
64.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 €36.18
$20.69 SEK 193
103.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €80.8
$60.0 SEK 560
56.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €103
$77.4 SEK 723
54.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,628 €1,400
$939 SEK 8,760
73.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 €1,080
$795 SEK 7,421
57.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,030 €2,607
$1,389 SEK 13.0K
118.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 €1,738
$1,183 SEK 11.0K
70.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,800 €6,709
$4,304 SEK 40.2K
81.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,273 €3,675
$2,931 SEK 27.4K
45.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Kalmar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,603 €1,379
$3,061 SEK 28.6K
-47.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.66
-18.24%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kalmar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $939 in Kalmar. 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 91% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $74.0 in Kalmar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 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 Kalmar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Lisbon and Kalmar compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon, $1,862 in Kalmar – roughly 19% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Kalmar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $2,793 in Kalmar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lisbon and Kalmar?
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 Lisbon and Kalmar?
Kindergarten costs $614 per month in Lisbon and $145 in Kalmar. 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 $1,862, than in Lisbon at $2,210. 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 Lisbon and Kalmar?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,862 in Kalmar to $2,210 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Lisbon or Kalmar 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 Lisbon and Kalmar?
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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