Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Skovde Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Skovde

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $1,793 in Skovde.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $2,782 in Skovde.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $3,770 in Skovde.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 28% more expensive than in Skovde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 68% above, Skovde 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59 €15.33
$13.43 SEK 132
30.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 €54.8
$81.1 SEK 799
-22.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.10
$10.14 SEK 99.9
14.20%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.70
$4.39 SEK 43.23
-29.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.17
$3.21 SEK 31.59
-22.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$2.47 SEK 24.29
-29.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 €3.03
$8.30 SEK 81.8
-58.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 €3.00
$10.12 SEK 99.7
-66.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.40 SEK 13.79
-17.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 €1.66
$2.97 SEK 29.25
-35.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$4.16 SEK 40.98
-63.94%
Eggs
$3.98 €3.47
$3.61 SEK 35.55
10.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.29 €11.59
$10.41 SEK 103
27.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.01 €6.98
$13.47 SEK 133
-40.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 €15.73
$18.38 SEK 181
-1.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.05
$4.33 SEK 42.69
-45.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.83 SEK 27.92
-38.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.62
$3.63 SEK 35.74
-49.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$5.22 SEK 51.5
-51.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.61
$1.51 SEK 14.93
21.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.83
$1.81 SEK 17.79
16.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 €1.30
$2.69 SEK 26.51
-44.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.30 SEK 12.76
-36.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10 €6.19
$8.28 SEK 81.6
-14.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.91 €5.15
$8.14 SEK 80.2
-27.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$2.53 SEK 24.89
-48.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.69 SEK 26.50
-20.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 €2.05
$3.76 SEK 37.05
-37.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.62 €40.63
$86.1 SEK 848
-45.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.55
$5.55 SEK 54.7
-26.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €0.99
$1.34 SEK 13.24
-14.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.09 €14.90
$62.5 SEK 616
-72.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.01
$1.80 SEK 17.77
28.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K €29.7K
$34.4K SEK 339.5K
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K €36.1K
$34.2K SEK 336.7K
21.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €147
$116 SEK 1,143
45.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33 €16.85
$11.26 SEK 111
71.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 €29.21
$44.81 SEK 442
-25.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.84 €42.57
$38.22 SEK 377
27.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 €16.94
$26.92 SEK 265
-27.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57 €8.34
$19.45 SEK 192
-50.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €607
$129 SEK 1,267
441.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K €15.1K
$4,661 SEK 45.9K
272.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €91.8
$94.6 SEK 933
11.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75 €41.62
$30.99 SEK 305
54.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €87.6
$62.5 SEK 616
60.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €108
$204 SEK 2,008
-38.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 €1,449
$815 SEK 8,034
103.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 €1,086
$595 SEK 5,861
109.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 €2,584
$1,367 SEK 13.5K
116.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,049 €1,786
$1,042 SEK 10.3K
96.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,834 €6,829
$4,083 SEK 40.2K
91.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,464 €3,892
$2,815 SEK 27.7K
58.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,632 €1,422
$3,356 SEK 33.1K
-51.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.78
3
26.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Last update for Skovde: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $815 in Skovde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Skovde pays 106% 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 $81.0 in Skovde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $377 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 Skovde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Skovde?
Lisbon and Skovde differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,296 vs $1,793 including rent). Skovde 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 106% lower in Skovde. 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 Skovde?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $815 in Skovde. 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 Skovde?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $129 in Skovde. 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 36% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,793 in Skovde versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Skovde but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Skovde the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Skovde?
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 Skovde safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Skovde 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 Skovde?
Expats usually find Skovde gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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