😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,853 in Ostersund.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,860 in Ostersund.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $3,867 in Ostersund.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 20% more expensive than Ostersund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon66% above, Ostersund38% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17€13.84
$13.21SEK 123
22.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6€55.3
$73.7SEK 685
-12.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.88
$10.60SEK 98.6
-2.08%
Cappuccino
$2.77€2.37
$4.50SEK 41.88
-38.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.79SEK 25.92
-19.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.49SEK 23.16
-36.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€2.99
$7.85SEK 73.0
-55.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.43
$7.42SEK 69.0
-46.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.53SEK 14.27
-29.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.49
$3.08SEK 28.67
-43.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.49
$5.10SEK 47.47
-65.88%
Eggs
$3.18€2.72
$3.61SEK 33.61
-11.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.43€11.50
$14.49SEK 135
-7.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.99€6.84
$11.74SEK 109
-31.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09€13.77
$15.97SEK 149
0.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.95
$4.54SEK 42.24
-49.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$3.00SEK 27.89
-42.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$3.73SEK 34.65
-47.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.18
$4.19SEK 39.00
-39.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.57
$3.71SEK 34.47
-50.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$1.85SEK 17.18
10.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98€1.69
$2.63SEK 24.44
-24.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$1.53SEK 14.19
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85€5.87
$8.20SEK 76.3
-16.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€4.94
$11.06SEK 103
-47.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.97SEK 18.29
-30.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90€2.48
$1.95SEK 18.10
48.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.95
$3.28SEK 30.53
-30.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.84€40.10
$74.6SEK 694
-37.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.49
$6.12SEK 56.9
-33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.67SEK 15.49
-50.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.27€15.64
$61.5SEK 572
-70.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.72
$2.09SEK 19.44
-3.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.2K
$32.8KSEK 304.6K
7.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$34.4KSEK 319.9K
11.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145€124
$115SEK 1,065
26.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96€17.94
$28.51SEK 265
-26.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05€34.29
$37.11SEK 345
7.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79€41.76
$39.73SEK 369
22.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69€16.00
$24.92SEK 232
-25.00%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06€7.76
$15.69SEK 146
-42.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607€519
$129SEK 1,202
369.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.0K
$4,151SEK 38.6K
293.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€89.6
$94.4SEK 878
10.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95€35.06
$41.27SEK 384
-0.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6€80.1
$95.5SEK 888
-2.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€101
$153SEK 1,418
-22.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,604€1,373
$830SEK 7,715
93.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,058
$647SEK 6,012
91.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,046€2,607
$1,420SEK 13.2K
114.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,057€1,761
$1,061SEK 9,872
93.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,709€6,599
$4,517SEK 42.0K
70.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,266€3,652
$2,965SEK 27.6K
43.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,584€1,356
-
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ostersund: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $830 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $74.0 in Ostersund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $387 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 Ostersund?
Lisbon and Ostersund differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,853 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 $3,341 in Lisbon and $2,780 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 Ostersund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $830 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 $607 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 43% 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 $1,853 in Ostersund versus $2,227 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 20% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.