😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Lisbon versus $2,089 in Skelleftea.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,294 in Lisbon versus $3,117 in Skelleftea.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,307 in Lisbon versus $4,145 in Skelleftea.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 9% more expensive than in Skelleftea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon71% above, Skelleftea57% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.75€13.64
$14.55SEK 138
8.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5€55.0
$68.7SEK 653
-7.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.45€9.05
$13.00SEK 124
-19.62%
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.52
$4.83SEK 45.85
-39.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$2.57SEK 24.37
-10.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.30
$2.06SEK 19.58
-27.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56€3.09
$9.13SEK 86.7
-61.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96€3.43
$8.19SEK 77.8
-51.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$1.61SEK 15.31
-32.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76€1.53
$2.75SEK 26.13
-36.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$5.05SEK 47.97
-66.34%
Eggs
$3.25€2.81
$4.95SEK 46.98
-34.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25€11.47
$11.73SEK 111
12.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.70€6.67
$11.34SEK 108
-32.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77€13.66
$22.94SEK 218
-31.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.70SEK 25.67
-15.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$2.51SEK 23.89
-33.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02€1.75
$3.26SEK 30.99
-38.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.14
$3.70SEK 35.16
-33.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$2.13SEK 20.21
-15.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.60SEK 15.17
29.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.71
$2.40SEK 22.76
-17.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$1.46SEK 13.91
-43.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.68
$7.26SEK 68.9
-9.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.57€4.82
$15.24SEK 145
-63.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.87SEK 17.76
-28.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$1.77SEK 16.82
70.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$4.17SEK 39.66
-45.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.35€40.14
$55.8SEK 530
-16.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.23€3.66
$8.28SEK 78.7
-48.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$2.07SEK 19.64
-58.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.83€16.31
$59.4SEK 564
-68.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$1.91SEK 18.16
5.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.3K
$32.8KSEK 311.2K
6.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.3K
$33.6KSEK 318.8K
18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€128
$170SEK 1,614
-12.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.77
$31.19SEK 296
-34.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.52€34.23
$27.55SEK 262
43.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17€41.72
$40.05SEK 380
20.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39€15.92
$25.76SEK 245
-28.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.88
$16.07SEK 153
-43.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615€532
$147SEK 1,393
319.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K€14.1K
$4,072SEK 38.7K
299.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$96.7SEK 918
5.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.09€36.45
$41.49SEK 394
1.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3€79.9
$83.4SEK 793
10.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€106
$163SEK 1,544
-24.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,396
$1,276SEK 12.1K
26.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254€1,086
$869SEK 8,260
44.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,069€2,658
$1,761SEK 16.7K
74.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,037€1,764
$1,391SEK 13.2K
46.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,751€6,712
$4,631SEK 44.0K
67.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,712
$3,247SEK 30.9K
31.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,602€1,387
$2,582SEK 24.5K
-37.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.5
-15.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026
Last update for Skelleftea: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Lisbon and $1,276 in Skelleftea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skelleftea pays 61% 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 $69.0 in Skelleftea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $385 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 9% in total monthly costs ($2,280 vs $2,089 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 61% 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: $1,612 in Lisbon versus $1,276 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 $615 in Lisbon versus $147 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 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 $2,089 in Skelleftea versus $2,280 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 9% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.