Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and SkovdeCost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Skovde
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $1,874 in Skovde.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $2,858 in Skovde.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $3,841 in Skovde.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 21% more expensive than Skovde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon68% above, Skovde39% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.73
$15.62SEK 147
2.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€54.6
$69.3SEK 650
-8.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€8.95
$11.64SEK 109
-10.82%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.40
$4.82SEK 45.23
-42.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.01
$2.67SEK 25.01
-12.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$2.24SEK 21.00
-29.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.95
$8.63SEK 81.0
-60.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.37
$8.48SEK 79.6
-53.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.93
$1.59SEK 14.92
-32.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.52
$2.74SEK 25.69
-35.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$4.49SEK 42.11
-61.92%
Eggs
$3.15€2.71
$5.13SEK 48.14
-38.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.79
$12.23SEK 115
11.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.90
$13.80SEK 129
-41.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.37
$17.33SEK 163
-10.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$3.76SEK 35.25
-39.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.76SEK 25.85
-40.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$3.56SEK 33.41
-45.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.17
$5.14SEK 48.24
-51.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.66SEK 15.54
7.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$1.77SEK 16.60
13.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.69
$2.73SEK 25.65
-27.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$1.32SEK 12.41
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.85
$7.98SEK 74.8
-14.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.89
$8.23SEK 77.2
-31.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.51SEK 23.52
-44.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.60
$2.58SEK 24.19
17.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$3.78SEK 35.51
-39.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.15
$73.9SEK 693
-38.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.70
$5.73SEK 53.7
-25.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.66SEK 15.57
-48.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.75
$65.4SEK 614
-72.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.71
$1.92SEK 18.03
3.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.2K
$32.6KSEK 305.8K
7.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$33.6KSEK 315.5K
17.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€126
$111SEK 1,043
31.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.62
$29.32SEK 275
-30.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.58
$43.82SEK 411
-11.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.21
$40.41SEK 379
21.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.22
$25.05SEK 235
-24.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.21
$20.23SEK 190
-52.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€524
$147SEK 1,375
314.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.2K
$5,637SEK 52.9K
192.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.5
$88.4SEK 829
17.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.29
$41.38SEK 388
1.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$99.0SEK 929
-6.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$158SEK 1,482
-24.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,397
$853SEK 8,004
90.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,092
$663SEK 6,216
91.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,626
$1,400SEK 13.1K
117.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,731
$1,085SEK 10.2K
85.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,602
$4,237SEK 39.7K
80.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,730
$2,910SEK 27.3K
48.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Skovde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,366
$3,432SEK 32.2K
-53.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.8
-20.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Skovde: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $853 in Skovde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Skovde pays 117% 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 Skovde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $384 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 Skovde?
Lisbon and Skovde differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,263 vs $1,874 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, Skovde earns 117% 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 Skovde?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $853 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 $608 in Lisbon versus $147 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 43% 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 $1,874 in Skovde versus $2,263 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 21% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.