🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,842 in Ostersund versus $2,263 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,858 in Ostersund versus $3,315 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,874 in Ostersund versus $4,368 in Lisbon.
🙂Living in Ostersund costs roughly 19% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostersund37% above, Lisbon68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.59SEK 128
$15.94€13.73
-14.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.6SEK 681
$63.4€54.6
14.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.63SEK 99.7
$10.38€8.95
2.41%
Cappuccino
$4.70SEK 44.09
$2.79€2.40
68.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83SEK 26.54
$2.34€2.01
20.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 22.48
$1.57€1.35
52.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.86SEK 73.8
$3.43€2.95
129.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.78SEK 73.0
$3.91€3.37
98.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49SEK 14.00
$1.08€0.93
37.96%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12SEK 29.29
$1.77€1.52
76.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.11SEK 47.92
$1.71€1.47
198.83%
Eggs
$3.53SEK 33.08
$3.15€2.71
12.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.49SEK 136
$13.68€11.79
5.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.89SEK 112
$8.01€6.90
48.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.12SEK 151
$15.52€13.37
3.87%
Apples(1kg)
$4.54SEK 42.61
$2.29€1.98
98.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.99SEK 28.06
$1.64€1.41
82.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59SEK 33.66
$1.94€1.67
85.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12SEK 38.64
$2.51€2.17
64.14%
Potato(1kg)
$3.76SEK 35.24
$1.79€1.54
110.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.54
$2.01€1.73
-12.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58SEK 24.25
$1.97€1.69
30.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58SEK 14.85
$0.84€0.73
88.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.30SEK 77.8
$6.79€5.85
22.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.58SEK 99.2
$5.67€4.89
86.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93SEK 18.15
$1.39€1.20
38.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SEK 17.84
$3.02€2.60
-37.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.31SEK 31.07
$2.27€1.95
45.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.3SEK 706
$45.44€39.15
65.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.26SEK 58.7
$4.29€3.70
45.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEK 15.39
$0.85€0.73
92.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.9SEK 581
$18.28€15.75
238.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08SEK 19.54
$1.99€1.71
4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KSEK 306.9K
$35.0K€30.2K
-6.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 318.2K
$39.5K€34.1K
-14.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113SEK 1,063
$146€126
-22.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.49SEK 267
$20.45€17.62
39.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.65SEK 344
$38.98€33.58
-5.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.38SEK 379
$48.98€42.21
-17.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.07SEK 235
$18.83€16.22
33.14%
Cinema Ticket
$15.37SEK 144
$9.52€8.21
61.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$129SEK 1,212
$608€524
-78.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,184SEK 39.3K
$16.5K€14.2K
-74.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.9SEK 872
$104€89.5
-10.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.09SEK 376
$42.12€36.29
-4.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.9SEK 900
$92.2€79.5
4.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152SEK 1,429
$120€103
26.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$825SEK 7,741
$1,621€1,397
-49.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645SEK 6,048
$1,268€1,092
-49.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,386SEK 13.0K
$3,048€2,626
-54.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,062SEK 9,966
$2,009€1,731
-47.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,359SEK 40.9K
$7,663€6,602
-43.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,949SEK 27.7K
$4,329€3,730
-31.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,585€1,366
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $825 in Ostersund and $1,621 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Ostersund vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 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
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 23% in total monthly costs ($1,842 vs $2,263 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 $2,762 in Ostersund and $3,394 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: $825 in Ostersund versus $1,621 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 $608 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 44% 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 $1,842 in Ostersund versus $2,263 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 23% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.