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: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,919 in Lulea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $3,101 in Lulea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $4,283 in Lulea.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 21% more expensive than in Lulea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 69% above, Lulea 40% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30 €14.93
$12.44 SEK 120
39.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €54.6
$99.1 SEK 954
-36.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 €9.83
$11.59 SEK 112
-1.73%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.75
$4.58 SEK 44.07
-30.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.11
$2.64 SEK 25.39
-7.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 €1.52
$1.97 SEK 18.94
-10.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 €3.10
$9.32 SEK 89.8
-61.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.93
$9.80 SEK 94.4
-65.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 €1.07
$1.87 SEK 18.01
-33.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.98 €1.71
$3.43 SEK 33.03
-42.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 €1.31
$4.91 SEK 47.27
-69.04%
Eggs
$4.04 €3.49
$4.67 SEK 44.95
-13.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.54 €11.68
$12.63 SEK 122
7.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 €7.24
$13.62 SEK 131
-38.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.25 €15.75
$27.73 SEK 267
-34.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$2.66 SEK 25.59
-13.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$2.82 SEK 27.20
-38.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$2.50 SEK 24.06
-25.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 €2.27
$4.35 SEK 41.88
-39.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 €1.65
$2.22 SEK 21.40
-13.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.81
$1.55 SEK 14.95
34.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 €1.24
$3.44 SEK 33.16
-58.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.28 SEK 12.37
-34.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.85
$7.17 SEK 69.1
-5.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 €4.93
$12.68 SEK 122
-54.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 €1.19
$1.88 SEK 18.14
-26.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.91
$1.84 SEK 17.71
20.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 €2.07
$3.42 SEK 32.96
-29.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.78 €40.37
$57.6 SEK 555
-18.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 €3.60
$9.51 SEK 91.6
-56.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.25 SEK 21.67
-49.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.68 €15.26
$71.9 SEK 693
-75.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.32 €2.01
$1.76 SEK 16.98
31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.5K
$33.5K SEK 322.7K
5.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €35.8K
$35.8K SEK 344.4K
15.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 €147
$173 SEK 1,663
-1.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34 €16.69
$32.34 SEK 312
-40.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64 €29.03
$27.89 SEK 269
20.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.10 €41.50
$49.35 SEK 475
-2.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90 €17.17
$36.98 SEK 356
-46.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 €8.56
$13.46 SEK 130
-26.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$717 €619
$161 SEK 1,552
345.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.5K €15.1K
$5,808 SEK 55.9K
200.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €90.4
$123 SEK 1,182
-14.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95 €40.51
$34.18 SEK 329
37.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €89.2
$126 SEK 1,211
-17.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €107
$166 SEK 1,599
-25.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,677 €1,447
$806 SEK 7,766
107.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,097
$600 SEK 5,775
111.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,985 €2,575
$1,533 SEK 14.8K
94.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,992 €1,719
$1,151 SEK 11.1K
73.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,826 €6,753
$3,240 SEK 31.2K
141.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,658 €4,019
$2,346 SEK 22.6K
98.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Lulea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,583 €1,366
$2,633 SEK 25.4K
-39.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.79
3.85
-1.56%

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

Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lulea: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $806 in Lulea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lulea pays 66% 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 $99.0 in Lulea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $420 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 21% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,919 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 66% 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: $1,677 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 $717 in Lisbon versus $161 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 49% 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 $1,919 in Lulea versus $2,316 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 21% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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