😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $2,078 in Skelleftea.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $3,152 in Skelleftea.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $4,225 in Skelleftea.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 9% more expensive than Skelleftea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Skelleftea55% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$14.80SEK 139
7.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$68.8SEK 645
-7.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$13.23SEK 124
-21.54%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$4.69SEK 44.00
-40.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$2.52SEK 23.69
-7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.06SEK 19.29
-23.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$8.81SEK 82.6
-61.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$8.23SEK 77.2
-52.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.62SEK 15.22
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$2.73SEK 25.58
-35.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$5.18SEK 48.58
-66.99%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$4.97SEK 46.59
-36.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$11.92SEK 112
14.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$11.36SEK 107
-29.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$22.36SEK 210
-30.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.71SEK 25.44
-15.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.64SEK 24.81
-37.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$3.28SEK 30.80
-40.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$3.63SEK 34.06
-30.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$2.24SEK 21.02
-20.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.66SEK 15.56
21.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$2.34SEK 21.93
-15.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.50SEK 14.07
-44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$7.07SEK 66.4
-3.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$15.63SEK 147
-63.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.80SEK 16.85
-22.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$1.70SEK 15.99
77.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$4.18SEK 39.20
-45.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$56.2SEK 527
-19.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$8.33SEK 78.2
-48.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$2.08SEK 19.54
-59.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$60.4SEK 567
-69.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.97SEK 18.48
1.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$33.1KSEK 310.5K
5.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$34.2KSEK 320.9K
15.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$175SEK 1,640
-16.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$31.35SEK 294
-34.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$28.57SEK 268
36.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$40.88SEK 383
19.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$24.89SEK 233
-24.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$16.10SEK 151
-40.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$150SEK 1,407
305.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$4,186SEK 39.3K
294.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$97.5SEK 915
6.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$42.48SEK 399
-0.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$83.0SEK 778
11.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$163SEK 1,529
-26.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$1,304SEK 12.2K
24.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$864SEK 8,105
46.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,776SEK 16.7K
71.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$1,387SEK 13.0K
44.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$4,072SEK 38.2K
88.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$2,554SEK 24.0K
69.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$2,660SEK 25.0K
-40.43%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Skelleftea: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $1,304 in Skelleftea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skelleftea pays 68% 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 $269 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 Skelleftea?
Lisbon and Skelleftea differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $2,078 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, Skelleftea earns 68% less. 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 Skelleftea?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $1,304 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 $608 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 $2,078 in Skelleftea versus $2,263 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.