😐A single person spends $2,210 per month in Lisbon vs $1,768 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,311 per month in Lisbon vs $2,652 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,411 per month in Lisbon vs $3,535 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐Lisbon costs about 25% more than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Lisbon and Karlskrona sit above the global median – Lisbon by 65%, Karlskrona by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$13.32SEK 124
19.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$69.1SEK 645
-6.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$9.22SEK 86.0
13.99%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.98SEK 37.16
-27.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.45SEK 13.48
54.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$2.51SEK 23.44
-40.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$7.21SEK 67.3
-51.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$5.33SEK 49.78
-27.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.60SEK 14.88
-28.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$2.84SEK 26.45
-38.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$3.84SEK 35.80
-54.17%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$4.07SEK 38.01
-20.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$11.49SEK 107
17.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$11.95SEK 111
-33.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$15.94SEK 149
-0.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$3.23SEK 30.13
-28.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.43SEK 22.69
-30.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$3.21SEK 29.96
-37.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$4.64SEK 43.31
-46.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$1.51SEK 14.07
21.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.60SEK 14.88
25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$2.22SEK 20.69
-13.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$1.45SEK 13.49
-45.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$7.48SEK 69.8
-11.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$13.48SEK 126
-57.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$2.10SEK 19.59
-34.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$1.77SEK 16.55
67.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$3.03SEK 28.24
-21.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
$65.2SEK 608
-30.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$14.57SEK 136
-70.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.66SEK 15.47
-50.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$21.00SEK 196
-12.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.87SEK 17.49
10.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$33.1KSEK 308.6K
3.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$34.1KSEK 317.7K
15.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$53.3SEK 497
177.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$28.37SEK 265
-27.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$36.87SEK 344
7.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$43.31SEK 404
10.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
$24.03SEK 224
-21.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$17.05SEK 159
-46.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$146SEK 1,358
321.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$753SEK 7,026
2031.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$104SEK 967
0.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$20.86SEK 195
101.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$85.2SEK 795
10.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$154SEK 1,434
-22.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$716SEK 6,679
127.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$690SEK 6,435
82.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$1,149SEK 10.7K
163.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$1,002SEK 9,348
101.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$3,141SEK 29.3K
148.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$2,664SEK 24.9K
60.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
$2,640SEK 24.6K
-39.27%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Karlskrona: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,628 in Lisbon versus $716 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 65% 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 $65.0 in Lisbon versus $69.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $360 – 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 25% 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 $3,315 per month in Lisbon and $2,652 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 Karlskrona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Lisbon and $69.0 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 vs Karlskrona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,210 in Lisbon and $1,768 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 Lisbon or Karlskrona?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,768, than in Lisbon at $2,210. 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.