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: $1,619 in Bålsta versus $2,631 in Stockholm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,516 in Bålsta versus $4,058 in Stockholm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,413 in Bålsta versus $5,486 in Stockholm.

Living in Bålsta costs roughly 38% less than in Stockholm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bålsta 18% above, Stockholm 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.12 SEK 139

$18.81 SEK 185

-24.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.5 SEK 665

$104 SEK 1,027

-35.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.05 SEK 89.2

$12.18 SEK 120

-25.70%

Cappuccino

$4.13 SEK 40.75

$5.23 SEK 51.5

-21.03%

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

$2.76 SEK 27.22

$3.69 SEK 36.36

-25.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 SEK 22.07

$3.02 SEK 29.80

-25.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.50 SEK 73.9

$8.33 SEK 82.1

-9.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 SEK 73.2

$9.34 SEK 92.0

-20.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 SEK 15.61

$1.70 SEK 16.72

-7.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.02 SEK 19.95

$4.15 SEK 40.91

-51.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.59 SEK 35.37

$3.91 SEK 38.50

-8.18%

Eggs

$3.73 SEK 36.79

$5.29 SEK 52.2

-29.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.52 SEK 114

$12.99 SEK 128

-11.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.47 SEK 123

$13.43 SEK 132

-7.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.53 SEK 114

$22.60 SEK 223

-48.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 SEK 26.16

$3.64 SEK 35.89

-27.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.77 SEK 27.34

$2.84 SEK 27.94

-2.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 SEK 21.01

$3.29 SEK 32.41

-35.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 SEK 28.55

$4.50 SEK 44.32

-35.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 SEK 14.47

$1.74 SEK 17.13

-15.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 SEK 12.66

$1.77 SEK 17.46

-27.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 SEK 15.55

$2.46 SEK 24.27

-35.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 SEK 9.94

$2.35 SEK 23.17

-57.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.26 SEK 71.6

$8.87 SEK 87.4

-18.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 SEK 101

$12.24 SEK 121

-16.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 SEK 15.54

$2.09 SEK 20.61

-24.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 SEK 21.10

$2.58 SEK 25.47

-17.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.42 SEK 33.73

$4.34 SEK 42.77

-21.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.7 SEK 805

$107 SEK 1,058

-23.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.31 SEK 62.2

$5.96 SEK 58.7

5.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 SEK 15.21

$1.55 SEK 15.25

-0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$79.6 SEK 784

$57.2 SEK 563

39.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.81 SEK 17.88

$1.79 SEK 17.64

1.12%

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

$34.8K SEK 343.0K

$34.4K SEK 339.1K

1.15%

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

$33.9K SEK 333.7K

$35.3K SEK 347.8K

-4.05%

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

$51.4 SEK 506

$264 SEK 2,602

-80.55%

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

$20.63 SEK 203

$21.83 SEK 215

-5.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.94 SEK 403

$41.49 SEK 409

-1.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.69 SEK 391

$47.66 SEK 470

-16.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.10 SEK 257

$39.48 SEK 389

-33.89%

Cinema Ticket

$13.79 SEK 136

$19.15 SEK 189

-27.99%

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

$126 SEK 1,245

$166 SEK 1,637

-23.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,266 SEK 51.9K

$17.0K SEK 167.9K

-69.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.8 SEK 727

$114 SEK 1,126

-35.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.48 SEK 103

$60.4 SEK 595

-82.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 SEK 825

$138 SEK 1,363

-39.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 SEK 1,131

$189 SEK 1,864

-39.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$831 SEK 8,191

$1,771 SEK 17.4K

-53.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 SEK 5,964

$1,072 SEK 10.6K

-43.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 SEK 14.0K

$3,181 SEK 31.3K

-55.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 SEK 10.3K

$1,881 SEK 18.5K

-44.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,263 SEK 42.0K

$11.8K SEK 116.3K

-63.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,890 SEK 28.5K

$6,814 SEK 67.2K

-57.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,987 SEK 39.3K

$3,595 SEK 35.4K

10.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.37

-10.98%

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

Last update for Bålsta: September 14, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $831 in Bålsta and $1,771 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: $68.0 in Bålsta vs $104 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $427 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 63% 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.

Average pay runs 11% higher in Bålsta, 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: $831 in Bålsta versus $1,771 in Stockholm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,619 per month in Bålsta versus $2,631 in Stockholm – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bålsta runs roughly 31% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,619 in Bålsta versus $2,631 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 $1,619 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 63% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.