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: $2,227 in Lisbon versus $1,718 in Ystad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,305 in Lisbon versus $2,721 in Ystad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,384 in Lisbon versus $3,725 in Ystad.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 30% more expensive than Ystad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lisbon 66% above, Ystad 28% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.17 €13.84
$11.41 SEK 106
41.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.6 €55.3
$91.5 SEK 851
-29.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 €8.88
$10.39 SEK 96.7
-0.10%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.37
$3.96 SEK 36.80
-30.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.92
$3.10 SEK 28.87
-27.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 €1.35
$2.61 SEK 24.29
-39.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.49 €2.99
$6.41 SEK 59.6
-45.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.43
$7.80 SEK 72.6
-48.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.93
$1.74 SEK 16.20
-37.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.74 €1.49
$2.90 SEK 26.97
-40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.49
$3.33 SEK 31.00
-47.75%
Eggs
$3.18 €2.72
$3.07 SEK 28.55
3.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 €11.50
$11.71 SEK 109
14.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.99 €6.84
$9.47 SEK 88.1
-15.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 €13.77
$18.82 SEK 175
-14.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.95
$3.02 SEK 28.08
-24.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 €1.48
$2.77 SEK 25.76
-37.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 €1.66
$2.97 SEK 27.66
-34.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.18
$4.24 SEK 39.45
-40.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 €1.57
$1.75 SEK 16.29
4.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.75
$1.85 SEK 17.25
10.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.98 €1.69
$2.29 SEK 21.25
-13.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.73
$1.61 SEK 14.93
-47.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.87
$7.84 SEK 72.9
-12.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.94
$11.86 SEK 110
-51.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.22 SEK 20.65
-38.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 €2.48
$2.53 SEK 23.53
14.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$3.36 SEK 31.24
-32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.84 €40.10
$75.0 SEK 697
-37.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 €3.49
$10.10 SEK 93.9
-59.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 €0.70
$1.59 SEK 14.76
-48.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.27 €15.64
$63.4 SEK 589
-71.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 €1.72
$1.89 SEK 17.55
6.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K €30.2K
$26.3K SEK 244.5K
34.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5K €32.9K
$30.3K SEK 281.8K
27.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 €124
$123 SEK 1,141
18.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.96 €17.94
$20.71 SEK 193
1.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.05 €34.29
$32.03 SEK 298
25.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.79 €41.76
$41.24 SEK 384
18.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 €16.00
$25.56 SEK 238
-26.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.06 €7.76
$12.53 SEK 117
-27.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 €519
$177 SEK 1,646
242.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K €14.0K
$4,148 SEK 38.6K
293.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €89.6
$52.9 SEK 492
97.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.95 €35.06
$39.47 SEK 367
3.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.6 €80.1
$94.0 SEK 874
-0.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 €101
$156 SEK 1,451
-24.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 €1,373
$852 SEK 7,921
88.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,236 €1,058
$658 SEK 6,124
87.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,046 €2,607
$1,418 SEK 13.2K
114.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,057 €1,761
$1,071 SEK 9,957
92.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,709 €6,599
$4,423 SEK 41.1K
74.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,266 €3,652
$3,203 SEK 29.8K
33.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ystad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,584 €1,356
$1,996 SEK 18.6K
-20.65%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ystad: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,604 in Lisbon and $852 in Ystad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ystad pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $92.0 in Ystad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $353 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 30% in total monthly costs ($2,227 vs $1,718 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 26% 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: $1,604 in Lisbon versus $852 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 $607 in Lisbon versus $177 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 30% 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 $1,718 in Ystad versus $2,227 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 30% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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