Cost of Living Comparison Between Helsingborg and Lund Cost of Living Comparison Between Helsingborg and Lund

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,792 per month in Helsingborg vs $1,949 in Lund, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,779 per month in Helsingborg vs $3,033 in Lund, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,765 per month in Helsingborg vs $4,117 in Lund, rent included.

Helsingborg is about 8% cheaper than Lund, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Helsingborg and Lund sit above the global median – Helsingborg by 34%, Lund by 45%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.52 SEK 147
$12.42 SEK 118
24.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.1 SEK 692
$85.7 SEK 810
-14.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 SEK 100.0
$11.98 SEK 113
-11.77%
Cappuccino
$4.77 SEK 45.08
$5.01 SEK 47.43
-4.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 SEK 27.51
$2.83 SEK 26.76
2.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 SEK 25.88
$2.07 SEK 19.59
32.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.27 SEK 68.8
$8.27 SEK 78.3
-12.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.49 SEK 61.4
$7.53 SEK 71.2
-13.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 SEK 13.70
$1.62 SEK 15.32
-10.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 SEK 23.27
$2.23 SEK 21.09
10.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.72 SEK 25.69
$2.92 SEK 27.62
-6.85%
Eggs
$4.80 SEK 45.42
$4.42 SEK 41.77
8.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.30 SEK 97.5
$12.89 SEK 122
-20.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.84 SEK 112
$11.41 SEK 108
3.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.14 SEK 153
$17.35 SEK 164
-6.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 SEK 25.71
$3.20 SEK 30.30
-15.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 SEK 26.33
$2.89 SEK 27.36
-3.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 SEK 30.91
$2.90 SEK 27.42
12.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.65 SEK 34.50
$4.42 SEK 41.80
-17.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 SEK 14.00
$1.67 SEK 15.83
-11.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 SEK 13.43
$1.63 SEK 15.44
-12.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.97 SEK 18.66
$2.63 SEK 24.86
-25.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 SEK 16.23
$1.29 SEK 12.17
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15 SEK 67.6
$8.10 SEK 76.6
-11.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.82 SEK 92.9
$11.86 SEK 112
-17.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45 SEK 23.21
$2.04 SEK 19.25
20.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 SEK 15.61
$2.15 SEK 20.32
-23.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.37 SEK 31.89
$3.42 SEK 32.36
-1.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.9 SEK 633
$67.2 SEK 636
-0.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 SEK 29.73
$5.40 SEK 51.1
-41.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 SEK 15.64
$1.90 SEK 17.99
-13.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.12 SEK 190
$62.6 SEK 592
-67.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 18.25
$1.98 SEK 18.70
-2.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K SEK 303.8K
$32.8K SEK 310.5K
-2.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K SEK 329.0K
$34.3K SEK 324.3K
1.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 SEK 1,139
$123 SEK 1,164
-2.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.86 SEK 273
$28.49 SEK 270
1.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37 SEK 344
$41.60 SEK 394
-12.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.47 SEK 373
$39.20 SEK 371
0.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.99 SEK 208
$24.29 SEK 230
-9.47%
Cinema Ticket
$21.00 SEK 199
$17.86 SEK 169
17.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$147 SEK 1,389
$176 SEK 1,661
-16.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,137 SEK 39.1K
$4,218 SEK 39.9K
-1.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.4 SEK 789
$79.1 SEK 749
5.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.13 SEK 418
$60.3 SEK 571
-26.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.6 SEK 801
$104 SEK 984
-18.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 SEK 1,057
$127 SEK 1,203
-12.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$818 SEK 7,739
$970 SEK 9,179
-15.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 SEK 6,086
$757 SEK 7,158
-14.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,389 SEK 13.1K
$1,644 SEK 15.6K
-15.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,138 SEK 10.8K
$1,314 SEK 12.4K
-13.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,336 SEK 31.6K
$6,660 SEK 63.0K
-49.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,402 SEK 22.7K
$3,858 SEK 36.5K
-37.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,072 SEK 29.1K
$3,140 SEK 29.7K
-2.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.66
4.8
-2.92%

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

Last update for Helsingborg: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lund: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $818 in Helsingborg versus $970 in Lund. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Lund, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Helsingborg versus $86.0 in Lund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $355 – making Helsingborg the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Helsingborg vs Lund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Helsingborg and Lund compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,792 in Helsingborg, $1,949 in Lund – roughly 9% apart. Lund costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Helsingborg compared to Lund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,688 per month in Helsingborg and $2,924 in Lund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Helsingborg and Lund?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Helsingborg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Helsingborg and Lund?
Public transport costs about 0% less in Helsingborg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Helsingborg and Lund?
Kindergarten costs $147 per month in Helsingborg and $176 in Lund. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Helsingborg, where all-in costs run around $1,792, than in Lund at $1,949. In Helsingborg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Helsingborg and Lund?
It depends on your priorities. Helsingborg has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,792 in Helsingborg to $1,949 in Lund. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Helsingborg or Lund safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Helsingborg and Lund?
If budget matters most, go with Helsingborg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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