Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,919 in Lulea versus $2,316 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,101 in Lulea versus $3,361 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,283 in Lulea versus $4,405 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Lulea costs roughly 17% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea40% above, Lisbon69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.44SEK 120
$17.30€14.93
-28.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.1SEK 954
$63.3€54.6
56.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59SEK 112
$11.39€9.83
1.76%
Cappuccino
$4.58SEK 44.07
$3.19€2.75
43.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64SEK 25.39
$2.45€2.11
7.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 18.94
$1.76€1.52
11.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.32SEK 89.8
$3.59€3.10
159.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.80SEK 94.4
$3.39€2.93
189.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.01
$1.24€1.07
50.81%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43SEK 33.03
$1.98€1.71
73.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.91SEK 47.27
$1.52€1.31
223.03%
Eggs
$4.67SEK 44.95
$4.04€3.49
15.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63SEK 122
$13.54€11.68
-6.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.62SEK 131
$8.39€7.24
62.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.73SEK 267
$18.25€15.75
51.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66SEK 25.59
$2.29€1.98
16.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82SEK 27.20
$1.74€1.50
62.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50SEK 24.06
$1.86€1.60
34.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35SEK 41.88
$2.63€2.27
65.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22SEK 21.40
$1.92€1.65
15.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.95
$2.09€1.81
-25.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.44SEK 33.16
$1.44€1.24
138.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 12.37
$0.84€0.73
52.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17SEK 69.1
$6.78€5.85
5.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68SEK 122
$5.71€4.93
122.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.14
$1.38€1.19
36.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SEK 17.71
$2.22€1.91
-17.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42SEK 32.96
$2.40€2.07
42.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.6SEK 555
$46.78€40.37
23.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.51SEK 91.6
$4.17€3.60
128.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.25SEK 21.67
$1.14€0.98
97.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.9SEK 693
$17.68€15.26
306.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.98
$2.32€2.01
-24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KSEK 322.7K
$35.3K€30.5K
-5.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KSEK 344.4K
$41.4K€35.8K
-13.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173SEK 1,663
$170€147
1.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.34SEK 312
$19.34€16.69
67.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.89SEK 269
$33.64€29.03
-17.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.35SEK 475
$48.10€41.50
2.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.98SEK 356
$19.90€17.17
85.83%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46SEK 130
$9.92€8.56
35.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,552
$717€619
-77.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,808SEK 55.9K
$17.5K€15.1K
-66.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123SEK 1,182
$105€90.4
17.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.18SEK 329
$46.95€40.51
-27.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,211
$103€89.2
21.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166SEK 1,599
$124€107
33.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806SEK 7,766
$1,677€1,447
-51.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$600SEK 5,775
$1,271€1,097
-52.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,533SEK 14.8K
$2,985€2,575
-48.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,151SEK 11.1K
$1,992€1,719
-42.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,240SEK 31.2K
$7,826€6,753
-58.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,346SEK 22.6K
$4,658€4,019
-49.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,633SEK 25.4K
$1,583€1,366
66.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.85
3.79
1.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: September 1, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 66% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $99.0 in Lulea vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $283 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
Lulea vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lulea and in Lisbon?
Lulea and Lisbon differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,919 vs $2,316 including rent). Lulea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lulea or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 66% higher in Lulea, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Lulea and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Lulea versus $1,677 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lulea and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $161 in Lulea versus $717 in Lisbon. 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 49% 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 $1,919 in Lulea versus $2,316 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lulea but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lulea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lulea and Lisbon?
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 Lulea or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lulea and Lisbon 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: Lulea or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lulea 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.