Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Stockholm

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens: $1,806 a month against $2,548 in Stockholm, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,806
/mo nomad
Stockholm
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,548
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Stockholm

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Athens and in Stockholm actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,806 in Athens versus $2,548 in Stockholm.

  • Athens $1,806
  • Stockholm $2,548

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,731 in Athens versus $3,806 in Stockholm.

  • Athens $2,731
  • Stockholm $3,806

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,656 in Athens versus $5,064 in Stockholm.

  • Athens $3,656
  • Stockholm $5,064

Living in Athens costs roughly 29% less than in Stockholm, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athens 35% above, Stockholm 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.66 €14.87
$18.26 SEK 182
-8.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 €59.1
$97.8 SEK 978
-32.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.06 €9.87
$11.71 SEK 117
-5.55%
Cappuccino
$4.14 €3.69
$4.89 SEK 48.92
-15.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 €2.50
$3.72 SEK 37.15
-24.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 €0.51
$3.03 SEK 30.29
-81.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 €5.03
$8.16 SEK 81.5
-30.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 €4.87
$8.96 SEK 89.5
-39.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 €1.75
$1.81 SEK 18.05
8.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 €1.26
$3.84 SEK 38.41
-63.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.83 €2.53
$3.75 SEK 37.52
-24.53%
Eggs
$5.04 €4.50
$5.04 SEK 50.4
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.35 €13.70
$12.90 SEK 129
18.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.34 €9.23
$12.70 SEK 127
-18.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.97 €16.93
$21.70 SEK 217
-12.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 €1.93
$3.61 SEK 36.03
-39.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 €1.70
$2.80 SEK 27.97
-31.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 €1.23
$3.14 SEK 31.36
-56.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.20 €1.96
$4.36 SEK 43.52
-49.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.10 €0.98
$1.70 SEK 16.99
-35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 €1.00
$1.78 SEK 17.83
-36.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 €0.99
$2.51 SEK 25.06
-56.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.74
$2.43 SEK 24.33
-65.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.60 €4.99
$8.52 SEK 85.1
-34.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.19 €9.09
$11.83 SEK 118
-13.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.95
$2.03 SEK 20.29
7.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.19
$2.55 SEK 25.49
-3.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.38 €1.23
$4.31 SEK 43.11
-67.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.87 €27.55
$106 SEK 1,059
-70.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 €3.90
$5.83 SEK 58.3
-25.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 €0.93
$1.51 SEK 15.09
-31.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.11 €15.27
$56.0 SEK 560
-69.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.31 €2.07
$1.79 SEK 17.90
29.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K €25.0K
$33.3K SEK 332.8K
-15.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K €25.0K
$34.1K SEK 340.4K
-17.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 €187
$248 SEK 2,479
-15.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.70 €23.83
$21.17 SEK 212
26.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13 €26.89
$39.91 SEK 399
-24.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.6 €48.72
$47.51 SEK 475
14.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.03 €23.23
$38.80 SEK 388
-32.91%
Cinema Ticket
$10.78 €9.62
$19.19 SEK 192
-43.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$575 €513
$159 SEK 1,585
262.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K €11.7K
$16.4K SEK 163.7K
-19.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2 €83.1
$112 SEK 1,119
-16.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.68 €36.30
$57.4 SEK 574
-29.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €92.9
$134 SEK 1,340
-22.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €115
$181 SEK 1,809
-29.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 €674
$1,694 SEK 16.9K
-55.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$652 €582
$1,088 SEK 10.9K
-40.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,294 €1,154
$2,985 SEK 29.8K
-56.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,163 €1,038
$1,782 SEK 17.8K
-34.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,008 €3,577
$11.1K SEK 111.4K
-64.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,452 €3,081
$6,326 SEK 63.2K
-45.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,243 €1,110
$3,501 SEK 35.0K
-64.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
3.37
32.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Athens: October 5, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$652
Stockholm
$1.1K 66.8% $436
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$315
Stockholm
$415 31.8% $100
Eating Out
Athens
$269
Stockholm
$326 21.2% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$267
Stockholm
$309 16% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$165
Stockholm
$218 32.3% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$76
Stockholm
$86 12.8% $9.7
Getting Around
Athens
$46
Stockholm
$137 197% $91

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Athens and $1,694 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stockholm pays 182% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Athens vs $98.0 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $415 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇸🇪 Stockholm
🕒 Local time
16:47 4:47 PM
15:47 3:47 PM
1 h behind Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
984,748 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.99 SEK (1 SEK = 0.1 USD). 1 EUR = 11.2 SEK (100 SEK = 8.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Stockholm 2,410 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Stockholm

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Athens vs Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Stockholm?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Stockholm. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Stockholm?
On paper, salaries run 182% lower in Stockholm. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Stockholm?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Athens versus $1,694 in Stockholm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Stockholm?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $98.0 in Stockholm. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Stockholm?
All in, you'll spend $1,806 per month in Athens versus $2,548 in Stockholm – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Athens or in Stockholm?
At $1,806 in Athens versus $2,548 in Stockholm, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. The gap between the two cities makes Athens the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Stockholm?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,806 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Athens hard to pass up.
How safe is Athens compared to Stockholm?
Safety-wise, Athens and Stockholm are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Athens gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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