😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $2,059 in Skelleftea.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $3,107 in Skelleftea.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $4,155 in Skelleftea.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 12% more expensive than in Skelleftea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Skelleftea50% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.33
$16.77SEK 165
4.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.8
$83.2SEK 820
-24.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.10
$13.62SEK 134
-14.98%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$4.85SEK 47.76
-36.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.74SEK 27.02
-9.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$2.29SEK 22.55
-24.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$8.51SEK 83.8
-59.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$8.35SEK 82.3
-58.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.65SEK 16.31
-30.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$2.64SEK 26.04
-27.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$5.15SEK 50.8
-70.87%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$5.11SEK 50.4
-22.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.59
$11.46SEK 113
15.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.98
$11.45SEK 113
-30.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.73
$24.84SEK 245
-27.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$3.34SEK 32.87
-29.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.53
$2.46SEK 24.27
-28.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$3.32SEK 32.71
-44.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$3.72SEK 36.62
-31.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.61
$2.42SEK 23.82
-23.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$1.67SEK 16.47
25.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$2.36SEK 23.30
-36.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$1.62SEK 15.96
-49.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.19
$7.47SEK 73.6
-4.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.15
$15.87SEK 156
-62.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.80SEK 17.69
-27.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.72SEK 16.98
23.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$2.98SEK 29.40
-20.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.63
$53.9SEK 531
-13.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$8.31SEK 81.8
-50.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$1.78SEK 17.50
-35.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.90
$62.2SEK 613
-72.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.75SEK 17.22
32.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$33.8KSEK 333.2K
0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.1K
$33.5KSEK 330.3K
23.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$106SEK 1,047
58.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.85
$34.88SEK 344
-44.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.21
$52.5SEK 517
-36.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.57
$38.78SEK 382
25.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.94
$26.42SEK 260
-26.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.34
$15.91SEK 157
-39.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€607
$150SEK 1,483
362.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$5,720SEK 56.4K
203.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.8
$95.9SEK 945
9.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.62
$43.84SEK 432
8.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.6
$84.0SEK 828
19.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$159SEK 1,570
-21.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,449
$1,203SEK 11.9K
38.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,086
$839SEK 8,267
48.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,584
$1,679SEK 16.5K
76.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,786
$1,274SEK 12.6K
60.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,829
$4,217SEK 41.6K
85.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,892
$2,888SEK 28.5K
54.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,422
$2,640SEK 26.0K
-38.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
3.9
-3.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Skelleftea: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $1,203 in Skelleftea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skelleftea pays 62% 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 $83.0 in Skelleftea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $397 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 Skelleftea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Skelleftea?
Lisbon and Skelleftea differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $2,059 including rent). Skelleftea 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 62% lower in Skelleftea. 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 Skelleftea?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $1,203 in Skelleftea. 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 Skelleftea?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $150 in Skelleftea. 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 $2,059 in Skelleftea versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Skelleftea but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Skelleftea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Skelleftea?
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 Skelleftea safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Skelleftea 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 Skelleftea?
Expats usually find Skelleftea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.