Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Stockholm Cost of Living Comparison Between Bålsta and Stockholm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,638 in Bålsta versus $2,547 in Stockholm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,559 in Bålsta versus $3,842 in Stockholm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,481 in Bålsta versus $5,138 in Stockholm.

Living in Bålsta costs roughly 36% less than in Stockholm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bålsta 22% above, Stockholm 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.05 SEK 121

$16.13 SEK 150

-19.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 SEK 650

$112 SEK 1,038

-37.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.48 SEK 88.1

$11.68 SEK 109

-18.84%

Cappuccino

$4.28 SEK 39.80

$4.99 SEK 46.39

-14.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 SEK 25.97

$3.19 SEK 29.70

-12.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 SEK 22.38

$2.49 SEK 23.16

-3.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.19 SEK 66.9

$8.28 SEK 77.0

-13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.40 SEK 68.8

$8.32 SEK 77.3

-11.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 SEK 15.03

$1.77 SEK 16.47

-8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 SEK 20.03

$3.40 SEK 31.66

-36.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 SEK 33.91

$3.89 SEK 36.17

-6.17%

Eggs

$3.71 SEK 34.54

$4.58 SEK 42.64

-19.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.53 SEK 107

$12.88 SEK 120

-10.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.81 SEK 110

$13.17 SEK 123

-10.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.55 SEK 107

$19.36 SEK 180

-40.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 SEK 25.23

$3.57 SEK 33.16

-24.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 SEK 23.94

$2.83 SEK 26.36

-9.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 SEK 21.43

$3.45 SEK 32.07

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 SEK 27.53

$4.63 SEK 43.05

-36.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SEK 14.10

$1.97 SEK 18.34

-22.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SEK 11.71

$1.88 SEK 17.46

-32.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 SEK 14.84

$2.55 SEK 23.67

-37.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 SEK 9.54

$1.62 SEK 15.08

-36.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.32 SEK 68.1

$8.05 SEK 74.9

-9.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.76 SEK 100

$14.04 SEK 131

-23.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 SEK 14.41

$2.14 SEK 19.95

-27.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 SEK 18.45

$2.26 SEK 21.05

-12.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.41 SEK 31.70

$4.67 SEK 43.46

-26.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.4 SEK 673

$114 SEK 1,058

-36.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 SEK 56.2

$6.32 SEK 58.8

-4.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.24 SEK 11.52

$1.58 SEK 14.74

-21.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$83.3 SEK 775

$61.9 SEK 576

34.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 SEK 17.84

$1.79 SEK 16.67

7.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.8K SEK 304.6K

$33.0K SEK 306.7K

-0.69%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.8K SEK 323.3K

$34.7K SEK 322.5K

0.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$52.7 SEK 490

$230 SEK 2,141

-77.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.59 SEK 192

$28.63 SEK 266

-28.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.27 SEK 347

$42.89 SEK 399

-13.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.89 SEK 371

$46.61 SEK 433

-14.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.82 SEK 231

$37.08 SEK 345

-33.06%

Cinema Ticket

$13.91 SEK 129

$17.90 SEK 166

-22.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$125 SEK 1,160

$161 SEK 1,496

-22.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$747 SEK 6,948

$6,546 SEK 60.9K

-88.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.6 SEK 675

$95.8 SEK 891

-24.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.72 SEK 99.7

$48.32 SEK 449

-77.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 SEK 774

$116 SEK 1,083

-28.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 SEK 1,095

$208 SEK 1,937

-43.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$855 SEK 7,952

$1,576 SEK 14.7K

-45.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 SEK 6,097

$1,114 SEK 10.4K

-41.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,404 SEK 13.1K

$2,811 SEK 26.1K

-50.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,078 SEK 10.0K

$1,774 SEK 16.5K

-39.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,367 SEK 40.6K

$12.2K SEK 113.6K

-64.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,982 SEK 27.7K

$6,513 SEK 60.6K

-54.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,261 SEK 39.6K

$3,839 SEK 35.7K

10.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

-27.88%

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

Last update for Bålsta: April 26, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $855 in Bålsta and $1,576 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $70.0 in Bålsta vs $112 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $403 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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bålsta wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Stockholm. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bålsta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Bålsta pays 11% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $855 in Bålsta versus $1,576 in Stockholm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,638 per month in Bålsta versus $2,547 in Stockholm – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bålsta runs roughly 57% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,638 in Bålsta versus $2,547 in Stockholm, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bålsta but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. The gap between the two cities makes Bålsta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bålsta delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,638 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bålsta hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bålsta 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.

Expats usually find Bålsta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.