😐A single person spends $2,291 per month in Lisbon vs $1,727 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Lisbon vs $2,601 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,354 per month in Lisbon vs $3,475 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 33% more than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Lisbon and Karlskrona sit above the global median – Lisbon by 71%, Karlskrona by 29%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19€14.18
$13.17SEK 127
22.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€55.5
$67.5SEK 653
-6.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€9.04
$9.28SEK 89.9
11.21%
Cappuccino
$2.83€2.48
$3.94SEK 38.16
-28.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€2.01
$1.45SEK 14.06
57.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.38
$2.51SEK 24.33
-37.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.98
$7.47SEK 72.3
-54.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03€3.53
$5.38SEK 52.1
-25.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.96
$1.52SEK 14.69
-28.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.53
$2.82SEK 27.28
-37.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$4.00SEK 38.69
-56.00%
Eggs
$3.17€2.77
$3.94SEK 38.11
-19.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19€11.56
$11.60SEK 112
13.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.97€6.98
$11.68SEK 113
-31.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.60
$15.98SEK 155
-2.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$3.11SEK 30.08
-23.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$2.53SEK 24.50
-32.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$3.04SEK 29.41
-33.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43€2.13
$4.68SEK 45.31
-48.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$1.50SEK 14.50
17.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$1.56SEK 15.09
30.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.68
$2.21SEK 21.37
-13.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.47SEK 14.20
-42.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58€5.76
$7.16SEK 69.3
-8.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.58€4.89
$12.85SEK 124
-56.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.17
$2.02SEK 19.58
-34.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.60
$1.79SEK 17.32
65.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.99
$2.93SEK 28.39
-22.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.79€40.10
$65.2SEK 631
-29.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.70
$14.39SEK 139
-70.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81€0.71
$1.59SEK 15.38
-49.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.44€16.15
$21.13SEK 205
-12.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.82
$1.94SEK 18.77
7.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K€30.4K
$33.0KSEK 319.7K
4.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€34.3K
$34.5KSEK 333.9K
13.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$53.1SEK 514
178.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46€17.92
$28.35SEK 274
-27.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56€34.64
$37.07SEK 359
6.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.99€42.03
$44.47SEK 431
7.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60€16.29
$24.19SEK 234
-23.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22€8.08
$17.06SEK 165
-45.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$616€540
$142SEK 1,377
333.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.4K
$745SEK 7,216
2105.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.0
$104SEK 1,003
-0.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74€36.55
$21.05SEK 204
98.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8€83.0
$83.5SEK 809
13.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€107
$155SEK 1,500
-21.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,633€1,430
$705SEK 6,824
131.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,079
$692SEK 6,699
78.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,098€2,713
$1,146SEK 11.1K
170.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,031€1,779
$998SEK 9,663
103.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,831€6,858
$3,021SEK 29.2K
159.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,389€3,844
$2,550SEK 24.7K
72.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,607€1,408
$2,501SEK 24.2K
-35.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.7
-18.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Last update for Karlskrona: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,633 in Lisbon versus $705 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: $267 vs $356 – 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
Which city is cheaper: Lisbon or Karlskrona?
Lisbon costs about 33% more than Karlskrona, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,437 per month in Lisbon and $2,591 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 $2,291 in Lisbon and $1,727 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 $1,727, than in Lisbon at $2,291. 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.