Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Lund Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Lund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,609 in Bålsta versus $1,904 in Lund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,497 in Bålsta versus $3,030 in Lund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,386 in Bålsta versus $4,156 in Lund.

Living in Bålsta costs roughly 15% less than in Lund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bålsta 20% above, Lund 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.92 SEK 125
$12.55 SEK 121
2.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 SEK 650
$85.3 SEK 822
-20.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 SEK 89.1
$12.20 SEK 118
-24.26%
Cappuccino
$4.15 SEK 39.98
$4.85 SEK 46.77
-14.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 SEK 26.84
$2.81 SEK 27.04
-1.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 SEK 22.92
$2.05 SEK 19.73
16.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.53 SEK 72.5
$8.22 SEK 79.3
-8.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42 SEK 71.5
$7.32 SEK 70.6
1.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 SEK 15.43
$1.60 SEK 15.38
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 SEK 20.50
$2.21 SEK 21.27
-3.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.79 SEK 36.55
$3.02 SEK 29.06
25.50%
Eggs
$3.86 SEK 37.19
$4.55 SEK 43.89
-15.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.70 SEK 113
$13.12 SEK 126
-10.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.82 SEK 114
$11.78 SEK 113
0.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.43 SEK 110
$17.28 SEK 167
-33.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 SEK 24.79
$3.18 SEK 30.61
-19.18%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 SEK 25.92
$2.77 SEK 26.73
-2.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 SEK 22.56
$2.77 SEK 26.67
-15.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.01 SEK 29.04
$4.55 SEK 43.81
-33.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 SEK 15.11
$1.66 SEK 15.96
-5.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 SEK 12.57
$1.58 SEK 15.20
-17.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.56 SEK 15.04
$2.60 SEK 25.06
-40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 SEK 10.31
$1.27 SEK 12.25
-15.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.57 SEK 73.0
$8.18 SEK 78.9
-7.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.24 SEK 98.7
$11.23 SEK 108
-8.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 SEK 15.40
$1.96 SEK 18.92
-18.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 SEK 18.46
$2.24 SEK 21.57
-14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.28 SEK 31.61
$3.34 SEK 32.23
-1.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.9 SEK 722
$67.4 SEK 649
11.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.39 SEK 61.6
$5.40 SEK 52.1
18.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 SEK 11.78
$1.88 SEK 18.16
-35.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.6 SEK 786
$63.0 SEK 607
29.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 18.64
$1.90 SEK 18.34
1.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8K SEK 315.8K
$32.7K SEK 315.0K
0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K SEK 334.8K
$34.1K SEK 328.9K
1.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.0 SEK 501
$122 SEK 1,175
-57.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.11 SEK 203
$28.99 SEK 279
-27.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55 SEK 352
$41.22 SEK 397
-11.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.47 SEK 390
$38.68 SEK 373
4.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.85 SEK 239
$24.09 SEK 232
3.15%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65 SEK 131
$18.17 SEK 175
-24.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 SEK 1,237
$179 SEK 1,724
-28.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$734 SEK 7,069
$4,129 SEK 39.8K
-82.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 SEK 722
$80.3 SEK 774
-6.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.69 SEK 103
$60.1 SEK 579
-82.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 SEK 820
$104 SEK 999
-17.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 SEK 1,106
$130 SEK 1,255
-11.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$824 SEK 7,937
$981 SEK 9,454
-16.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 SEK 6,388
$763 SEK 7,348
-13.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,372 SEK 13.2K
$1,615 SEK 15.6K
-15.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,065 SEK 10.3K
$1,307 SEK 12.6K
-18.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,802 SEK 36.6K
$6,408 SEK 61.7K
-40.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,106 SEK 29.9K
$3,682 SEK 35.5K
-15.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bålsta
Lund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,963 SEK 38.2K
$2,972 SEK 28.6K
33.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3
4.8
-37.50%

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

Last update for Bålsta: July 14, 2026

Last update for Lund: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $824 in Bålsta and $981 in Lund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67.0 in Bålsta vs $85.0 in Lund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $355 per month, with Bålsta 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
Bålsta vs Lund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bålsta or Lund?
Bålsta wins on cost – living expenses run 18% lower than in Lund. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bålsta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bålsta or in Lund?
Average pay runs 33% higher in Bålsta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bålsta compared to Lund?
Rent for a central apartment: $824 in Bålsta versus $981 in Lund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bålsta compared to Lund?
All in, you'll spend $1,609 per month in Bålsta versus $1,904 in Lund – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bålsta compared to Lund?
A monthly transit pass in Bålsta runs roughly 11% less than in Lund. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bålsta or in Lund?
At $1,609 in Bålsta versus $1,904 in Lund, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bålsta but tight or insufficient in Lund. The gap between the two cities makes Bålsta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bålsta or Lund?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bålsta delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,609 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bålsta hard to pass up.
How safe is Bålsta compared to Lund?
Safety-wise, Bålsta and Lund 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 Bålsta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Lund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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