Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ystad Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Ystad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,217 in Lisbon versus $1,732 in Ystad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,245 in Lisbon versus $2,721 in Ystad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,272 in Lisbon versus $3,709 in Ystad.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Ystad 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 €13.59
$11.78 SEK 110
33.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.5 €53.8
$93.0 SEK 870
-32.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 €9.07
$10.72 SEK 100
-1.68%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.38
$4.16 SEK 38.92
-33.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.97
$3.02 SEK 28.21
-24.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.33
$2.57 SEK 24.01
-39.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 €3.05
$6.23 SEK 58.3
-43.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 €3.43
$7.75 SEK 72.5
-48.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.69 SEK 15.78
-36.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.77 €1.52
$2.89 SEK 27.03
-38.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$3.27 SEK 30.56
-45.87%
Eggs
$3.12 €2.69
$3.20 SEK 29.90
-2.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.34 €11.49
$11.81 SEK 110
12.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.88
$9.68 SEK 90.6
-17.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.92 €13.70
$18.73 SEK 175
-15.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$3.17 SEK 29.62
-28.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.42
$2.76 SEK 25.77
-40.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.70
$3.04 SEK 28.48
-34.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 €2.11
$4.34 SEK 40.63
-43.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.73 SEK 16.22
2.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.97 €1.69
$1.93 SEK 18.10
2.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 €1.70
$2.22 SEK 20.75
-11.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 €0.69
$1.61 SEK 15.03
-50.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54 €5.63
$8.14 SEK 76.2
-19.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €4.95
$12.85 SEK 120
-55.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.13
$2.18 SEK 20.42
-39.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 €2.57
$2.51 SEK 23.52
19.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.01
$3.36 SEK 31.46
-30.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.85 €39.48
$73.0 SEK 683
-37.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.26 €3.66
$10.22 SEK 95.6
-58.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 €0.73
$1.66 SEK 15.51
-49.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.86 €16.24
$61.8 SEK 578
-69.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.78
$1.89 SEK 17.66
9.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K €30.3K
$25.7K SEK 240.7K
36.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.2K
$29.6K SEK 277.1K
30.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 €130
$123 SEK 1,146
23.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 €18.00
$21.34 SEK 200
-2.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.54 €34.05
$32.03 SEK 300
23.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.39 €41.67
$40.41 SEK 378
19.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 €16.02
$25.09 SEK 235
-25.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04 €7.79
$12.90 SEK 121
-29.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 €525
$173 SEK 1,618
252.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$4,208 SEK 39.4K
286.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 €87.2
$53.2 SEK 498
90.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.58 €34.94
$39.09 SEK 366
3.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 €80.1
$95.9 SEK 897
-3.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €102
$155 SEK 1,452
-23.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 €1,380
$831 SEK 7,776
92.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,239 €1,067
$643 SEK 6,017
92.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,019 €2,599
$1,403 SEK 13.1K
115.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,061 €1,775
$1,096 SEK 10.3K
87.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,981 €6,872
$4,236 SEK 39.6K
88.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,533 €3,903
$2,988 SEK 28.0K
51.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,628 €1,402
$1,928 SEK 18.0K
-15.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
4
-4.75%

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

Last update for Lisbon: June 15, 2026

Last update for Ystad: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in Lisbon and $831 in Ystad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ystad pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $62.0 in Lisbon vs $93.0 in Ystad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $357 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 Ystad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Ystad?
Lisbon and Ystad differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,217 vs $1,732 including rent). Ystad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Ystad earns 18% 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 Ystad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in Lisbon versus $831 in Ystad. 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 Ystad?
Childcare runs $610 in Lisbon versus $173 in Ystad. 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 33% 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 $1,732 in Ystad versus $2,217 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ystad but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ystad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Ystad?
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 Ystad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ystad 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 Ystad?
Expats usually find Ystad 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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