๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,706 in Mรถlndal.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,617 in Mรถlndal.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $3,527 in Mรถlndal.
๐Living in Lisbon is roughly 33% more expensive than Mรถlndal, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Mรถlndal27% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94โฌ13.73
$12.87SEKย 121
23.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4โฌ54.6
$74.6SEKย 700
-15.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38โฌ8.95
$10.68SEKย 100
-2.81%
Cappuccino
$2.79โฌ2.40
$4.83SEKย 45.31
-42.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34โฌ2.01
$3.09SEKย 28.99
-24.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57โฌ1.35
$1.03SEKย 9.68
52.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43โฌ2.95
$7.52SEKย 70.5
-54.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91โฌ3.37
$6.27SEKย 58.8
-37.64%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08โฌ0.93
$1.20SEKย 11.23
-10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77โฌ1.52
$1.57SEKย 14.70
12.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.47
$3.34SEKย 31.29
-48.80%
Eggs
$3.15โฌ2.71
$3.76SEKย 35.27
-16.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68โฌ11.79
$7.13SEKย 66.9
91.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01โฌ6.90
$9.28SEKย 87.1
-13.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52โฌ13.37
$15.70SEKย 147
-1.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29โฌ1.98
$3.09SEKย 28.99
-25.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64โฌ1.41
$2.64SEKย 24.74
-37.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94โฌ1.67
$2.89SEKย 27.12
-32.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51โฌ2.17
$4.20SEKย 39.38
-40.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.54
$1.71SEKย 16.03
4.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01โฌ1.73
$1.93SEKย 18.06
4.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97โฌ1.69
$2.00SEKย 18.74
-1.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84โฌ0.73
$1.27SEKย 11.93
-33.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79โฌ5.85
$7.39SEKย 69.3
-8.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67โฌ4.89
$10.60SEKย 99.4
-46.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39โฌ1.20
$2.14SEKย 20.04
-35.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02โฌ2.60
$2.60SEKย 24.34
16.15%
๐ Getting Around
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27โฌ1.95
$3.86SEKย 36.20
-41.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44โฌ39.15
$88.9SEKย 834
-48.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29โฌ3.70
$6.41SEKย 60.1
-33.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85โฌ0.73
$1.59SEKย 14.95
-46.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28โฌ15.75
$61.8SEKย 579
-70.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99โฌ1.71
$1.97SEKย 18.44
1.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0Kโฌ30.2K
$32.0KSEKย 299.8K
9.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5Kโฌ34.1K
$35.1KSEKย 328.9K
12.80%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146โฌ126
$76.0SEKย 713
92.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45โฌ17.62
$10.58SEKย 99.2
93.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98โฌ33.58
$21.01SEKย 197
85.53%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98โฌ42.21
$36.97SEKย 347
32.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83โฌ16.22
$30.32SEKย 284
-37.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52โฌ8.21
$18.13SEKย 170
-47.49%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608โฌ524
$172SEKย 1,616
253.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5Kโฌ14.2K
$4,086SEKย 38.3K
304.09%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104โฌ89.5
$89.3SEKย 838
16.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12โฌ36.29
$39.76SEKย 373
5.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2โฌ79.5
$74.9SEKย 703
23.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120โฌ103
$153SEKย 1,437
-21.64%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621โฌ1,397
$850SEKย 7,976
90.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268โฌ1,092
$650SEKย 6,096
95.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048โฌ2,626
$1,393SEKย 13.1K
118.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009โฌ1,731
$1,093SEKย 10.3K
83.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663โฌ6,602
$4,290SEKย 40.2K
78.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329โฌ3,730
$3,005SEKย 28.2K
44.05%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Mรถlndal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585โฌ1,366
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.33
-12.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mรถlndal: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $850 in Mรถlndal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $75.0 in Mรถlndal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $304 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 Mรถlndal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Mรถlndal?
Lisbon and Mรถlndal differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,706 including rent). Mรถlndal is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Mรถlndal?
You'd need roughly $3,394 in Lisbon and $2,560 in Mรถlndal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Mรถlndal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $850 in Mรถlndal. 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 Mรถlndal?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $172 in Mรถlndal. 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 13% 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 $1,706 in Mรถlndal versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mรถlndal but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Mรถlndal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Mรถlndal?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Mรถlndal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Mรถlndal 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 Mรถlndal?
Expats usually find Mรถlndal gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 33% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.