Cost of living in Sweden
Summary of cost of living in Sweden
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 38,232 kr
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 20,187 kr
- Cost of living in Sweden is cheaper than in 67% of countries in Western Europe (12 out of 18)
- Cost of living in Sweden is more expensive than in 73% of countries in the World (23 out of 81)
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 111 kr | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 83 kr | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 56 kr | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 13 kr | ||
12 eggs, large | 35 kr | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 30 kr | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 55 kr | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 26 kr | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 11 kr | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 16 kr | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 111 kr | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | 22 kr | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 12 kr | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 15,677 kr | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 12,403 kr | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 988 kr | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 10,576 kr | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 7,519 kr | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 355 kr | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 200 kr | ||
40” flat screen tv | 3,716 kr | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 1,057 kr | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 45 kr | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 207 kr | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 984 kr | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 391 kr | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 1,062 kr | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 1,244 kr | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 245,474 kr | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 14 kr | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | 721 kr | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 54 kr | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 114 kr | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 250 kr | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 37 kr | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 28 kr | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 26 kr | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | 22 kr | ||
Tube of toothpaste | 19 kr | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 311 kr | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 368 kr | ||
2 tickets to the movies | 261 kr | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 762 kr | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 636 kr | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 130 kr | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 40 kr | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 66 kr | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 5,576 kr | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 2.78 kr | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | 323 kr | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 64 kr |
Map of Cost of Living in Sweden

This map shows only the top cities in Sweden. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Sweden
(top cities by data quality)
Ranking | City | Price Index * |
---|---|---|
1st | Stockholm | 176 |
2nd | Gothenburg | 156 |
3rd | Uppsala | 156 |
4th | Örebro | 147 |
5th | Visby | 142 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Sweden? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Sweden of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Sweden
Borås | Gothenburg | Gävle |
Halmstad | Helsingborg | Jönköping |
Karlstad | Lulea | Malmo |
Norrköping | Pitea | Skelleftea |
Stockholm | Umeå | Uppsala |
Visby | Västerås | Växjö |
Örebro |
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 118% more expensive than in Bucharest
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 45% more expensive than in Valencia
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 12% cheaper than in Boston, Massachusetts
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 24% more expensive than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 93% more expensive than in Budapest
- Cost of living in Västerås is 221% more expensive than in San Carlos de Bariloche
- Cost of living in Gothenburg is 256% more expensive than in Kursk
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 8% cheaper than in Amsterdam
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 26% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 27% more expensive than in Andorra la Vella
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 21% more expensive than in Malmo
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 19% more expensive than in Berlin
- Cost of living in Malmo is 42% cheaper than in Geneva
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 87% more expensive than in Warsaw
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 51% more expensive than in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 25% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Gothenburg is 11% cheaper than in Stockholm
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 185% more expensive than in Buenos Aires
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 8% cheaper than in Chicago, Illinois
- Cost of living in Stockholm is 137% more expensive than in Kyiv
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Monthly rent - 85 m2 furnished accommodation in expensive area in Gothenburg costs 7,000 kr (10 days ago)