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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,868 per month in Helsingborg vs $1,854 in Lund, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,903 per month in Helsingborg vs $3,027 in Lund, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,939 per month in Helsingborg vs $4,201 in Lund, rent included.

Helsingborg costs about 1% more than Lund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Helsingborg and Lund sit above the global median – Helsingborg by 36%, Lund by 35%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.51 SEK 148
$13.54 SEK 129
14.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.1 SEK 709
$94.6 SEK 904
-21.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.50 SEK 139
$12.34 SEK 118
17.50%
Cappuccino
$4.79 SEK 45.86
$4.79 SEK 45.84
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 SEK 28.27
$2.78 SEK 26.62
6.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 SEK 25.06
$2.12 SEK 20.31
23.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.73 SEK 73.9
$8.13 SEK 77.7
-4.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.60 SEK 63.2
$7.51 SEK 71.9
-12.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 SEK 14.09
$1.73 SEK 16.56
-15.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.96 SEK 28.34
$2.74 SEK 26.22
8.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 SEK 30.45
$3.77 SEK 36.06
-15.65%
Eggs
$4.79 SEK 45.84
$4.58 SEK 43.83
4.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 SEK 110
$13.16 SEK 126
-12.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.37 SEK 109
$12.10 SEK 116
-6.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.54 SEK 149
$17.47 SEK 167
-11.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 27.77
$3.14 SEK 30.08
-7.64%
Banana (1kg)
$3.12 SEK 29.82
$2.98 SEK 28.53
4.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 SEK 30.91
$2.97 SEK 28.37
8.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 SEK 40.64
$4.82 SEK 46.13
-11.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 SEK 14.07
$1.86 SEK 17.81
-20.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 SEK 15.39
$1.43 SEK 13.72
12.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 SEK 18.40
$2.78 SEK 26.63
-30.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 SEK 17.98
$1.52 SEK 14.55
23.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.96 SEK 85.7
$8.29 SEK 79.3
8.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.51 SEK 91.0
$11.62 SEK 111
-18.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 23.97
$1.99 SEK 19.08
26.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 SEK 25.60
$2.76 SEK 26.43
-2.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 SEK 32.73
$3.25 SEK 31.13
5.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.4 SEK 626
$66.2 SEK 633
-1.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.36 SEK 51.3
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.35 SEK 51.2
$1.16 SEK 11.05
361.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$42.94 SEK 411
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 SEK 17.61
$1.87 SEK 17.90
-1.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K SEK 327.3K
$35.0K SEK 334.6K
-2.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SEK 326.6K
$33.9K SEK 324.3K
0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 SEK 1,428
$82.2 SEK 786
81.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.90 SEK 267
$32.06 SEK 307
-12.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.93 SEK 325
$43.65 SEK 418
-22.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.77 SEK 380
$38.47 SEK 368
3.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.28 SEK 223
$28.42 SEK 272
-18.09%
Cinema Ticket
$15.62 SEK 149
$15.94 SEK 152
-2.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 SEK 1,721
$167 SEK 1,600
7.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8 SEK 792
$84.8 SEK 811
-2.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.24 SEK 433
$60.7 SEK 580
-25.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 SEK 890
$106 SEK 1,010
-11.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 SEK 1,092
$130 SEK 1,244
-12.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$872 SEK 8,337
$870 SEK 8,323
0.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 SEK 6,363
$715 SEK 6,844
-7.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 SEK 13.3K
$1,824 SEK 17.4K
-23.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,132 SEK 10.8K
$1,449 SEK 13.9K
-21.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,141 SEK 30.0K
$6,563 SEK 62.8K
-52.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,387 SEK 22.8K
$3,707 SEK 35.5K
-35.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Helsingborg
Lund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,032 SEK 29.0K
$3,096 SEK 29.6K
-2.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.93
3.03
29.70%

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

Last update for Helsingborg: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lund: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $872 in Helsingborg versus $870 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 reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Helsingborg versus $95.0 in Lund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $377 – 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 in Lund compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,868 in Helsingborg, $1,854 in Lund – roughly 1% apart. Helsingborg costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Helsingborg compared to Lund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,802 per month in Helsingborg and $2,780 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 Lund, 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 in Lund?
Public transport costs about 1% less in Lund. 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 $180 per month in Helsingborg and $167 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 $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lund, where all-in costs run around $1,854, than in Helsingborg at $1,868. In Lund it covers expenses comfortably, while in Helsingborg 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 $1,854 in Lund to $1,868 in Helsingborg. 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 Lund. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Helsingborg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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