🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,853 in Ostersund versus $2,227 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,860 in Ostersund versus $3,305 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,867 in Ostersund versus $4,384 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Ostersund costs roughly 17% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostersund38% above, Lisbon66% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.21SEK 123
$16.17€13.84
-18.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.7SEK 685
$64.6€55.3
14.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60SEK 98.6
$10.38€8.88
2.12%
Cappuccino
$4.50SEK 41.88
$2.77€2.37
62.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79SEK 25.92
$2.25€1.92
24.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49SEK 23.16
$1.57€1.35
58.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.85SEK 73.0
$3.49€2.99
124.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42SEK 69.0
$4.00€3.43
85.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53SEK 14.27
$1.08€0.93
41.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08SEK 28.67
$1.74€1.49
77.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.10SEK 47.47
$1.74€1.49
193.10%
Eggs
$3.61SEK 33.61
$3.18€2.72
13.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.49SEK 135
$13.43€11.50
7.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.74SEK 109
$7.99€6.84
46.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.97SEK 149
$16.09€13.77
-0.75%
Apples(1kg)
$4.54SEK 42.24
$2.28€1.95
99.12%
Banana(1kg)
$3.00SEK 27.89
$1.72€1.48
74.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.73SEK 34.65
$1.94€1.66
92.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19SEK 39.00
$2.54€2.18
64.96%
Potato(1kg)
$3.71SEK 34.47
$1.83€1.57
102.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85SEK 17.18
$2.04€1.75
-9.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.63SEK 24.44
$1.98€1.69
32.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53SEK 14.19
$0.85€0.73
80.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20SEK 76.3
$6.85€5.87
19.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.06SEK 103
$5.78€4.94
91.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 18.29
$1.37€1.18
43.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.10
$2.90€2.48
-32.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28SEK 30.53
$2.28€1.95
43.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.6SEK 694
$46.84€40.10
59.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.12SEK 56.9
$4.08€3.49
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67SEK 15.49
$0.82€0.70
103.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.5SEK 572
$18.27€15.64
236.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09SEK 19.44
$2.01€1.72
3.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 304.6K
$35.3K€30.2K
-7.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 319.9K
$38.5K€32.9K
-10.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SEK 1,065
$145€124
-21.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.51SEK 265
$20.96€17.94
36.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.11SEK 345
$40.05€34.29
-7.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.73SEK 369
$48.79€41.76
-18.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.92SEK 232
$18.69€16.00
33.33%
Cinema Ticket
$15.69SEK 146
$9.06€7.76
73.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$129SEK 1,202
$607€519
-78.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,151SEK 38.6K
$16.3K€14.0K
-74.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.4SEK 878
$105€89.6
-9.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.27SEK 384
$40.95€35.06
0.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5SEK 888
$93.6€80.1
2.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEK 1,418
$119€101
28.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830SEK 7,715
$1,604€1,373
-48.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647SEK 6,012
$1,236€1,058
-47.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,420SEK 13.2K
$3,046€2,607
-53.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 9,872
$2,057€1,761
-48.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,517SEK 42.0K
$7,709€6,599
-41.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,965SEK 27.6K
$4,266€3,652
-30.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,584€1,356
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
3.81
18.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ostersund: April 26, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $830 in Ostersund and $1,604 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Ostersund vs $65.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $271 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
Ostersund vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ostersund and Lisbon?
Ostersund and Lisbon differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,853 vs $2,227 including rent). Ostersund is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ostersund compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $2,780 in Ostersund and $3,341 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ostersund and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $830 in Ostersund versus $1,604 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 Ostersund and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $129 in Ostersund versus $607 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 43% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,853 in Ostersund versus $2,227 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ostersund but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ostersund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ostersund 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 Ostersund or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ostersund 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: Ostersund or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Ostersund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.