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: $1,592 in Bålsta versus $2,501 in Stockholm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,508 in Bålsta versus $3,835 in Stockholm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,424 in Bålsta versus $5,169 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 18% above, Stockholm 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.97 SEK 122

$15.55 SEK 146

-16.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.6 SEK 652

$113 SEK 1,056

-38.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.52 SEK 89.3

$11.73 SEK 110

-18.84%

Cappuccino

$4.26 SEK 39.97

$5.07 SEK 47.56

-15.98%

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

$2.84 SEK 26.66

$3.18 SEK 29.78

-10.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 SEK 22.63

$2.52 SEK 23.62

-4.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.49 SEK 70.3

$8.59 SEK 80.6

-12.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.26 SEK 68.2

$8.32 SEK 78.1

-12.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 SEK 14.45

$1.80 SEK 16.88

-14.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 SEK 19.29

$3.44 SEK 32.23

-40.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 SEK 34.32

$3.99 SEK 37.45

-8.27%

Eggs

$3.69 SEK 34.62

$4.69 SEK 43.96

-21.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.77 SEK 110

$12.65 SEK 119

-6.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.01 SEK 113

$13.20 SEK 124

-9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.40 SEK 107

$19.66 SEK 184

-42.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 SEK 24.28

$3.62 SEK 33.94

-28.45%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 SEK 25.24

$2.87 SEK 26.95

-6.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 SEK 21.62

$3.53 SEK 33.08

-34.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 SEK 27.94

$4.47 SEK 41.94

-33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 SEK 14.50

$1.99 SEK 18.67

-22.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 SEK 12.17

$1.81 SEK 16.96

-28.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 SEK 15.15

$2.50 SEK 23.49

-35.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 SEK 10.07

$1.55 SEK 14.51

-30.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SEK 71.1

$7.94 SEK 74.5

-4.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.33 SEK 96.9

$12.76 SEK 120

-19.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SEK 15.14

$2.14 SEK 20.04

-24.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 SEK 17.75

$2.35 SEK 22.09

-19.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.31 SEK 31.03

$4.52 SEK 42.36

-26.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.9 SEK 684

$113 SEK 1,063

-35.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 SEK 57.3

$6.35 SEK 59.6

-3.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 SEK 11.24

$1.64 SEK 15.39

-26.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$83.0 SEK 778

$62.5 SEK 587

32.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 SEK 17.89

$1.82 SEK 17.07

4.95%

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

$32.4K SEK 303.9K

$32.1K SEK 301.3K

0.85%

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

$34.2K SEK 321.2K

$34.8K SEK 326.4K

-1.59%

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

$51.8 SEK 486

$225 SEK 2,108

-76.96%

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

$21.14 SEK 198

$28.52 SEK 268

-25.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.91 SEK 337

$41.74 SEK 392

-13.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.95 SEK 375

$47.32 SEK 444

-15.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.28 SEK 237

$37.97 SEK 356

-33.42%

Cinema Ticket

$13.45 SEK 126

$17.82 SEK 167

-24.52%

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

$129 SEK 1,206

$164 SEK 1,542

-21.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$736 SEK 6,904

$6,429 SEK 60.3K

-88.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 SEK 700

$95.9 SEK 899

-22.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.50 SEK 98.5

$49.26 SEK 462

-78.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.0 SEK 788

$116 SEK 1,092

-27.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 SEK 1,099

$204 SEK 1,910

-42.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 SEK 7,825

$1,591 SEK 14.9K

-47.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 SEK 6,146

$1,115 SEK 10.5K

-41.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 SEK 12.9K

$2,737 SEK 25.7K

-49.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 SEK 10.2K

$1,793 SEK 16.8K

-39.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,805 SEK 45.1K

$11.9K SEK 111.6K

-59.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,705 SEK 25.4K

$6,717 SEK 63.0K

-59.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,170 SEK 39.1K

$3,731 SEK 35.0K

11.77%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $834 in Bålsta and $1,591 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bålsta pays 12% 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 $113 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $401 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 57% 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 12% 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: $834 in Bålsta versus $1,591 in Stockholm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,592 per month in Bålsta versus $2,501 in Stockholm – a 57% 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 $1,592 in Bålsta versus $2,501 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 $1,592 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 57% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.