😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $1,843 in Ostersund.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $2,834 in Ostersund.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $3,825 in Ostersund.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 24% more expensive than in Ostersund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Ostersund38% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$13.50SEK 128
16.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$72.5SEK 689
-12.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$10.73SEK 102
-2.61%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$4.74SEK 45.03
-38.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$2.75SEK 26.12
-16.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$2.51SEK 23.81
-40.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$7.97SEK 75.8
-55.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$7.73SEK 73.4
-48.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.49SEK 14.17
-27.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$3.01SEK 28.60
-41.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$4.89SEK 46.48
-65.24%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$3.42SEK 32.53
-4.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$14.43SEK 137
-8.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$11.85SEK 113
-35.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$16.20SEK 154
-2.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$4.37SEK 41.47
-47.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$2.95SEK 28.00
-43.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$3.77SEK 35.78
-46.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$4.32SEK 41.02
-42.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$3.76SEK 35.69
-52.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.77SEK 16.85
16.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$2.51SEK 23.88
-21.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$1.56SEK 14.86
-46.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$8.18SEK 77.7
-19.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$10.11SEK 96.0
-44.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.97SEK 18.71
-32.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.98SEK 18.84
52.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$3.45SEK 32.73
-34.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$73.2SEK 695
-36.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$6.45SEK 61.3
-34.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.65SEK 15.68
-48.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$62.8SEK 596
-70.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$2.07SEK 19.64
-2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$32.9KSEK 313.0K
6.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$34.2KSEK 325.3K
15.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$116SEK 1,101
27.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$29.20SEK 277
-29.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$37.09SEK 352
6.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$40.91SEK 389
17.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$25.43SEK 242
-27.68%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$15.24SEK 145
-40.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$129SEK 1,227
375.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$4,066SEK 38.6K
300.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$96.5SEK 916
5.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$40.03SEK 380
5.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$97.8SEK 929
-5.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$148SEK 1,411
-17.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$831SEK 7,895
93.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$667SEK 6,336
87.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$1,404SEK 13.3K
118.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$1,079SEK 10.3K
88.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$3,798SEK 36.1K
104.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$2,909SEK 27.6K
47.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.53
-15.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ostersund: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $831 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $72.0 in Ostersund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $383 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 Ostersund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Ostersund?
Lisbon and Ostersund differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $1,843 including rent). Ostersund is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Ostersund?
You'd need roughly $3,420 in Lisbon and $2,764 in Ostersund 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 in Ostersund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $831 in Ostersund. 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 Ostersund?
Childcare runs $615 in Lisbon versus $129 in Ostersund. 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 44% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,843 in Ostersund versus $2,280 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ostersund but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ostersund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ostersund?
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 Ostersund safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ostersund 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 Ostersund?
Expats usually find Ostersund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.