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: $1,885 in Lulea versus $2,210 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,023 in Lulea versus $3,311 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,161 in Lulea versus $4,411 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Lulea costs roughly 15% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea41% above, Lisbon65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.89SEK 120
$15.91€13.69
-18.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.8SEK 875
$64.8€55.7
44.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.01SEK 112
$10.51€9.04
14.27%
Cappuccino
$4.65SEK 43.39
$2.87€2.47
62.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 23.88
$2.24€1.93
14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06SEK 19.25
$1.50€1.29
37.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.46SEK 78.9
$3.49€3.00
142.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.98SEK 93.2
$3.88€3.34
157.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.02
$1.14€0.98
69.30%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55SEK 33.15
$1.75€1.51
102.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.02SEK 46.86
$1.76€1.51
185.23%
Eggs
$4.95SEK 46.21
$3.22€2.77
53.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91SEK 120
$13.49€11.61
-4.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.97SEK 130
$7.91€6.81
76.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.38SEK 255
$15.87€13.65
72.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69SEK 25.13
$2.31€1.99
16.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.80SEK 26.15
$1.70€1.46
64.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62SEK 24.49
$2.01€1.73
30.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 42.17
$2.46€2.12
83.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18SEK 20.33
$1.84€1.59
18.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64SEK 15.26
$2.00€1.72
-18.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.42SEK 31.88
$1.93€1.66
77.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 13.53
$0.79€0.68
83.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.45SEK 69.5
$6.61€5.68
12.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.66SEK 118
$5.72€4.92
121.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83SEK 17.10
$1.37€1.17
33.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80SEK 16.77
$2.97€2.56
-39.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 31.39
$2.37€2.04
41.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.1SEK 561
$45.56€39.19
31.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.53SEK 88.9
$4.29€3.69
122.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71SEK 16.00
$0.82€0.70
108.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$75.1SEK 700
$18.30€15.74
310.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.60
$2.06€1.78
-8.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 298.4K
$34.3K€29.5K
-6.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KSEK 325.5K
$39.3K€33.8K
-11.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174SEK 1,627
$148€127
17.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.07SEK 309
$20.52€17.65
61.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.42SEK 265
$39.61€34.08
-28.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.17SEK 459
$47.85€41.16
2.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.67SEK 342
$18.92€16.28
93.82%
Cinema Ticket
$13.75SEK 128
$9.18€7.90
49.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,481
$614€528
-74.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,764SEK 53.8K
$16.0K€13.8K
-64.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$125SEK 1,168
$105€90.0
19.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.73SEK 315
$42.06€36.18
-19.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,175
$94.0€80.8
33.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172SEK 1,605
$120€103
43.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$791SEK 7,376
$1,628€1,400
-51.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$578SEK 5,395
$1,255€1,080
-53.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,413SEK 13.2K
$3,030€2,607
-53.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053SEK 9,824
$2,020€1,738
-47.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,337SEK 31.1K
$7,800€6,709
-57.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,379SEK 22.2K
$4,273€3,675
-44.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,732SEK 25.5K
$1,603€1,379
70.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
3.81
10.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $791 in Lulea and $1,628 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 70% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Lulea vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $428 vs $269 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 Lisbon?
Lulea and Lisbon differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($1,885 vs $2,210 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?
Lulea pays 70% more on average, 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $791 in Lulea versus $1,628 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 $159 in Lulea versus $614 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 59% 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 $1,885 in Lulea versus $2,210 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 17% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.