Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Karlskrona Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Karlskrona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,296 per month in Lisbon vs $1,639 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Lisbon vs $2,583 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,457 per month in Lisbon vs $3,528 in Karlskrona, rent included.

Lisbon costs about 40% more than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lisbon and Karlskrona sit above the global median – Lisbon by 68%, Karlskrona by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$13.36 SEK 132
31.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$67.3 SEK 663
-6.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$9.46 SEK 93.2
22.41%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$4.09 SEK 40.27
-24.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$1.35 SEK 13.29
84.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$2.28 SEK 22.49
-23.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$7.32 SEK 72.2
-52.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$5.14 SEK 50.7
-33.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.48 SEK 14.55
-22.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$2.71 SEK 26.75
-29.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$3.74 SEK 36.84
-59.89%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$4.61 SEK 45.44
-13.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$10.87 SEK 107
22.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$13.28 SEK 131
-39.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$17.32 SEK 171
4.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$3.15 SEK 30.99
-25.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.37 SEK 23.33
-26.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$2.95 SEK 29.10
-37.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$4.55 SEK 44.87
-43.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$1.51 SEK 14.89
21.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$1.51 SEK 14.91
39.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$2.15 SEK 21.19
-30.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.47 SEK 14.51
-44.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$7.15 SEK 70.5
-0.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$12.79 SEK 126
-53.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.97 SEK 19.43
-33.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$1.76 SEK 17.30
21.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$3.03 SEK 29.91
-22.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$73.5 SEK 725
-36.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$13.58 SEK 134
-69.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$2.00 SEK 19.76
-43.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$82.2 SEK 810
-79.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$1.71 SEK 16.84
35.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$33.2K SEK 327.0K
2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$33.4K SEK 329.3K
23.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$52.6 SEK 518
220.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$28.34 SEK 279
-31.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$37.87 SEK 373
-11.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$42.28 SEK 417
15.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$24.72 SEK 244
-21.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$16.62 SEK 164
-42.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$164 SEK 1,618
323.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$98.9 SEK 975
6.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$20.68 SEK 204
130.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$81.8 SEK 806
22.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$178 SEK 1,756
-30.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$686 SEK 6,762
142.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$597 SEK 5,879
108.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$1,140 SEK 11.2K
160.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$963 SEK 9,494
112.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$2,944 SEK 29.0K
166.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$2,555 SEK 25.2K
74.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$2,546 SEK 25.1K
-35.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
4.22
-10.43%

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

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Karlskrona: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,662 in Lisbon versus $686 in Karlskrona. 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 56% higher in Karlskrona, 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 $67.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $364 – 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 Karlskrona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlskrona cheaper than Lisbon?
Yes – Lisbon is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,444 per month in Lisbon and $2,459 in Karlskrona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Lisbon or in Karlskrona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Lisbon and $67.0 in Karlskrona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lisbon and in Karlskrona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,296 in Lisbon and $1,639 in Karlskrona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Karlskrona?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lisbon or Karlskrona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Karlskrona?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlskrona. 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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