😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Lisbon versus $1,807 in Sundsvall.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,361 in Lisbon versus $2,745 in Sundsvall.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Lisbon versus $3,684 in Sundsvall.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 28% more expensive than in Sundsvall, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon69% above, Sundsvall31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.87
$15.45SEK 147
11.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3€54.4
$82.3SEK 784
-23.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.39€9.79
$11.47SEK 109
-0.70%
Cappuccino
$3.19€2.74
$4.86SEK 46.38
-34.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.10
$2.51SEK 23.94
-2.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.98SEK 18.85
-11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59€3.09
$8.83SEK 84.2
-59.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$7.85SEK 74.8
-56.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.56SEK 14.86
-20.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.98€1.71
$3.07SEK 29.31
-35.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$3.69SEK 35.19
-58.81%
Eggs
$4.04€3.47
$3.52SEK 33.61
14.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.54€11.64
$10.03SEK 95.7
35.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39€7.21
$10.12SEK 96.5
-17.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.25€15.69
$18.16SEK 173
0.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.75SEK 26.19
-16.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.42SEK 23.11
-28.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.60
$2.61SEK 24.90
-28.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.26
$4.13SEK 39.35
-36.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.53SEK 14.58
25.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.80
$1.41SEK 13.44
48.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.84SEK 17.57
-21.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$0.98SEK 9.30
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.83
$7.78SEK 74.1
-12.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.71€4.91
$9.49SEK 90.5
-39.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.74SEK 16.59
-20.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.91
$1.43SEK 13.62
55.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40€2.06
$3.51SEK 33.45
-31.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.78€40.22
$90.7SEK 865
-48.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.17€3.59
$6.21SEK 59.2
-32.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.98
$6.41SEK 61.1
-82.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.68€15.20
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.85SEK 17.60
25.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K€30.4K
$32.2KSEK 307.0K
9.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€35.6K
$32.5KSEK 309.4K
27.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€146
$102SEK 976
66.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.34€16.62
$29.85SEK 285
-35.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.64€28.92
$31.63SEK 302
6.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10€41.35
$41.82SEK 399
15.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90€17.11
$12.69SEK 121
56.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92€8.53
$14.33SEK 137
-30.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$717€617
$145SEK 1,384
394.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.5K€15.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.1
$91.8SEK 876
14.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.95€40.36
$29.13SEK 278
61.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€88.9
$78.6SEK 749
31.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€107
$138SEK 1,320
-10.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,677€1,441
$701SEK 6,682
139.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,271€1,093
$631SEK 6,020
101.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,985€2,566
$1,230SEK 11.7K
142.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,992€1,713
$926SEK 8,833
115.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,826€6,728
$2,516SEK 24.0K
211.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,658€4,004
$1,357SEK 12.9K
243.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,583€1,361
$3,141SEK 29.9K
-49.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
3.88
-2.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Last update for Sundsvall: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,677 in Lisbon and $701 in Sundsvall. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sundsvall pays 98% 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 $82.0 in Sundsvall for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $283 vs $327 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 Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Sundsvall?
Lisbon and Sundsvall differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,316 vs $1,807 including rent). Sundsvall 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 98% lower in Sundsvall. 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 Sundsvall?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,677 in Lisbon versus $701 in Sundsvall. 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 Sundsvall?
Childcare runs $717 in Lisbon versus $145 in Sundsvall. 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 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,807 in Sundsvall versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Sundsvall but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Sundsvall the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Sundsvall?
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 Sundsvall safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Sundsvall 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 Sundsvall?
Expats usually find Sundsvall 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.