😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,776 in Ostersund.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,833 in Ostersund.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $3,890 in Ostersund.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 29% more expensive than in Ostersund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Ostersund30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$14.02SEK 138
25.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$78.4SEK 773
-19.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$10.49SEK 103
10.39%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$4.84SEK 47.68
-35.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.81SEK 27.68
-11.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$2.25SEK 22.13
-22.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$7.36SEK 72.6
-52.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$7.10SEK 70.0
-51.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.54SEK 15.18
-25.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$2.98SEK 29.36
-35.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$4.93SEK 48.60
-69.57%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.46SEK 34.08
15.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$14.28SEK 141
-6.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$11.84SEK 117
-32.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$15.74SEK 155
14.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$4.46SEK 43.94
-47.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.96SEK 29.13
-40.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$3.55SEK 34.97
-47.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$4.28SEK 42.21
-40.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$1.65SEK 16.23
11.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.62SEK 15.94
29.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$2.39SEK 23.53
-37.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.54SEK 15.20
-46.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$8.08SEK 79.6
-12.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$10.53SEK 104
-43.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.99SEK 19.65
-34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$2.23SEK 21.99
-4.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$3.40SEK 33.55
-30.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$81.2SEK 801
-42.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$6.26SEK 61.7
-34.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.72SEK 16.96
-33.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$61.2SEK 603
-72.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.88SEK 18.55
22.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$34.9KSEK 344.2K
-2.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$34.3KSEK 338.2K
20.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$107SEK 1,054
57.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$27.13SEK 267
-28.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$39.47SEK 389
-15.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$39.68SEK 391
23.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$26.20SEK 258
-25.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$15.27SEK 150
-37.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$131SEK 1,291
431.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$5,237SEK 51.6K
231.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$94.6SEK 932
11.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$43.68SEK 430
9.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$97.9SEK 965
2.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$144SEK 1,424
-13.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$844SEK 8,316
96.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$604SEK 5,955
106.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$1,420SEK 14.0K
108.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$1,061SEK 10.5K
93.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$4,145SEK 40.8K
89.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$2,859SEK 28.2K
56.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.42
10.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ostersund: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $844 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $78.0 in Ostersund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $375 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 29% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,776 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 $3,444 in Lisbon and $2,664 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: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $844 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 $696 in Lisbon versus $131 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 35% 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 $1,776 in Ostersund versus $2,296 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 29% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.