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: $1,596 in Bålsta versus $2,557 in Stockholm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,543 in Bålsta versus $3,865 in Stockholm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Bålsta versus $5,174 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 20% above, Stockholm 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.40 SEK 127

$16.09 SEK 153

-16.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.6 SEK 661

$110 SEK 1,049

-36.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.18 SEK 87.2

$11.69 SEK 111

-21.47%

Cappuccino

$4.17 SEK 39.60

$5.04 SEK 47.86

-17.26%

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

$2.69 SEK 25.54

$3.15 SEK 29.94

-14.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 SEK 23.47

$2.56 SEK 24.30

-3.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.56 SEK 71.8

$8.38 SEK 79.6

-9.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.43 SEK 70.6

$8.63 SEK 82.0

-13.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 SEK 15.28

$1.79 SEK 17.03

-10.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.09 SEK 19.83

$3.41 SEK 32.37

-38.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 SEK 35.58

$3.95 SEK 37.56

-5.06%

Eggs

$3.81 SEK 36.22

$4.68 SEK 44.49

-18.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.47 SEK 109

$12.95 SEK 123

-11.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.86 SEK 113

$13.00 SEK 123

-8.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.81 SEK 112

$19.07 SEK 181

-38.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 SEK 25.35

$3.47 SEK 32.94

-23.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 SEK 24.64

$2.89 SEK 27.46

-10.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 SEK 21.86

$3.42 SEK 32.48

-32.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.92 SEK 27.75

$4.63 SEK 43.94

-36.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 SEK 14.63

$1.91 SEK 18.12

-19.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 SEK 11.91

$1.86 SEK 17.63

-32.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 SEK 15.35

$2.63 SEK 24.98

-38.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 SEK 10.23

$1.61 SEK 15.34

-32.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.59 SEK 72.1

$8.07 SEK 76.7

-5.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.13 SEK 96.2

$12.35 SEK 117

-17.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 SEK 15.36

$2.23 SEK 21.16

-27.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 SEK 18.03

$2.38 SEK 22.58

-20.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.47 SEK 33.01

$4.50 SEK 42.75

-22.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.3 SEK 696

$114 SEK 1,080

-35.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 SEK 58.5

$6.24 SEK 59.3

-1.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 SEK 11.71

$1.59 SEK 15.13

-22.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$82.5 SEK 784

$61.5 SEK 584

34.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.94 SEK 18.44

$1.88 SEK 17.84

3.19%

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

$32.9K SEK 312.2K

$32.0K SEK 304.1K

2.67%

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

$34.0K SEK 322.6K

$34.8K SEK 330.4K

-2.35%

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

$52.4 SEK 498

$227 SEK 2,152

-76.87%

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

$20.96 SEK 199

$28.66 SEK 272

-26.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.17 SEK 353

$42.65 SEK 405

-12.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.28 SEK 392

$46.85 SEK 445

-11.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.99 SEK 237

$37.07 SEK 352

-32.59%

Cinema Ticket

$13.88 SEK 132

$18.04 SEK 171

-23.06%

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

$125 SEK 1,188

$163 SEK 1,553

-23.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$732 SEK 6,951

$6,574 SEK 62.5K

-88.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.9 SEK 702

$96.0 SEK 912

-23.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.41 SEK 98.9

$49.89 SEK 474

-79.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 SEK 787

$120 SEK 1,142

-31.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 SEK 1,098

$201 SEK 1,906

-42.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 SEK 7,841

$1,598 SEK 15.2K

-48.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$654 SEK 6,218

$1,094 SEK 10.4K

-40.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 SEK 13.5K

$2,742 SEK 26.1K

-48.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 SEK 10.3K

$1,791 SEK 17.0K

-39.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,504 SEK 33.3K

$11.6K SEK 110.3K

-69.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,134 SEK 29.8K

$6,671 SEK 63.4K

-53.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,952 SEK 37.5K

$3,505 SEK 33.3K

12.76%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $825 in Bålsta and $1,598 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 13% 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 $110 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $308 vs $399 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 60% 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 13% 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: $825 in Bålsta versus $1,598 in Stockholm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,596 per month in Bålsta versus $2,557 in Stockholm – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bålsta runs roughly 55% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,596 in Bålsta versus $2,557 in Stockholm, a $1,000 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 $1,596 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 60% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.