Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lulea Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Lulea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $1,865 in Lulea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $3,060 in Lulea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $4,256 in Lulea.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 23% more expensive than in Lulea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 71% above, Lulea 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.15
$12.56 SEK 121
28.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.3
$94.6 SEK 911
-33.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.02
$11.60 SEK 112
-11.03%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.47
$4.87 SEK 46.91
-41.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.00
$2.55 SEK 24.56
-10.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$1.97 SEK 19.01
-19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.97
$8.57 SEK 82.6
-60.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.52
$9.97 SEK 96.0
-59.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.93 SEK 18.64
-43.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$3.42 SEK 32.98
-48.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$5.07 SEK 48.86
-65.29%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$4.74 SEK 45.70
-33.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.53
$12.76 SEK 123
3.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.96
$14.05 SEK 135
-43.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.57
$28.00 SEK 270
-44.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$2.61 SEK 25.15
-9.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.76 SEK 26.58
-38.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.75
$2.60 SEK 25.03
-22.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.12
$4.36 SEK 42.04
-44.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$2.23 SEK 21.48
-21.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.66 SEK 15.95
22.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$3.48 SEK 33.52
-44.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$1.44 SEK 13.84
-40.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.75
$7.42 SEK 71.5
-11.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.87
$12.34 SEK 119
-54.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.16
$1.88 SEK 18.15
-29.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$1.85 SEK 17.87
60.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$3.36 SEK 32.35
-32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.01
$58.3 SEK 562
-21.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.69
$9.54 SEK 91.9
-55.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.73 SEK 16.68
-53.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.11
$74.5 SEK 718
-75.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.89 SEK 18.22
10.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.3K
$32.2K SEK 310.2K
7.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.2K
$35.7K SEK 343.7K
9.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$176 SEK 1,692
-15.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.88
$31.87 SEK 307
-35.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.56
$28.56 SEK 275
38.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €41.93
$48.58 SEK 468
-1.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.25
$36.54 SEK 352
-49.10%
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.06
$13.73 SEK 132
-32.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €538
$163 SEK 1,566
279.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$5,827 SEK 56.2K
182.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.7
$124 SEK 1,190
-16.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.47
$33.60 SEK 324
24.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €82.8
$130 SEK 1,252
-27.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$170 SEK 1,643
-28.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,426
$806 SEK 7,765
102.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,077
$589 SEK 5,675
109.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,707
$1,441 SEK 13.9K
114.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,775
$1,081 SEK 10.4K
88.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,842
$3,107 SEK 29.9K
152.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,835
$2,323 SEK 22.4K
88.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,404
$2,654 SEK 25.6K
-39.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4.2
-9.29%

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

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Lulea: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $806 in Lulea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lulea pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $95.0 in Lulea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $426 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

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 Lulea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Lulea?
Lisbon and Lulea differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $1,865 including rent). Lulea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Lulea. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Lulea?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $806 in Lulea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lisbon and Lulea?
Childcare runs $616 in Lisbon versus $163 in Lulea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lisbon pay roughly 59% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,865 in Lulea versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lulea but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lulea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Lulea?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Lulea safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Lulea are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Lulea?
Expats usually find Lulea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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