Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Sweden Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Sweden

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $1,828 in Sweden.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $2,831 in Sweden.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,834 in Sweden.

Living in India costs about 79% less than in Sweden on average.

India (71% below) and Sweden (37% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Sweden: monthly costs span $1,448 to $2,582, compared to $265$913 in India. City choice carries more weight in Sweden.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Sweden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53 ₹244
$14.86 SEK 144
-82.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.73 ₹1,321
$85.4 SEK 826
-83.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 ₹385
$11.45 SEK 111
-65.07%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ₹184
$4.82 SEK 46.59
-60.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₹41.85
$2.82 SEK 27.28
-84.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.11
$2.38 SEK 22.98
-92.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₹186
$8.04 SEK 77.8
-76.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 ₹341
$8.03 SEK 77.6
-55.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Sweden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 ₹69.9
$1.70 SEK 16.47
-57.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹50.1
$3.13 SEK 30.25
-83.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₹69.9
$3.86 SEK 37.26
-81.09%
Eggs
$0.95 ₹91.4
$4.53 SEK 43.80
-79.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.32 ₹512
$12.07 SEK 117
-55.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ₹299
$12.20 SEK 118
-74.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$18.93 SEK 183
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.16 ₹208
$3.15 SEK 30.48
-31.43%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹67.7
$2.84 SEK 27.41
-75.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹101
$3.07 SEK 29.68
-65.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.8
$4.38 SEK 42.30
-87.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.65
$1.84 SEK 17.74
-78.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 ₹46.63
$1.82 SEK 17.62
-73.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.78
$2.33 SEK 22.57
-77.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₹34.33
$1.46 SEK 14.08
-75.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 ₹387
$8.14 SEK 78.7
-50.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.28 ₹701
$11.30 SEK 109
-35.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₹183
$2.11 SEK 20.35
-9.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ₹292
$2.18 SEK 21.10
38.99%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.84 ₹562
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Sweden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.66
$3.71 SEK 35.90
-90.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.84 ₹948
$90.6 SEK 875
-89.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹91.8
$6.52 SEK 63.0
-85.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.03
$1.82 SEK 17.63
-83.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.79 ₹172
$63.0 SEK 609
-97.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ₹117
$1.93 SEK 18.61
-37.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$32.0K SEK 308.9K
-56.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K ₹2.2M
$34.8K SEK 336.7K
-35.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Sweden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.16 ₹3,866
$127 SEK 1,230
-68.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.76 ₹362
$29.12 SEK 281
-87.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04 ₹774
$38.54 SEK 373
-79.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Sweden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.25 ₹1,565
$41.63 SEK 402
-60.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.56 ₹728
$27.79 SEK 269
-72.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.43 ₹330
$17.12 SEK 165
-79.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Sweden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.7 ₹6,713
$152 SEK 1,471
-54.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,852 ₹178.3K
$2,607 SEK 25.2K
-28.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Sweden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.59 ₹2,463
$95.1 SEK 919
-73.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.30 ₹2,531
$41.34 SEK 400
-36.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.89 ₹4,321
$105 SEK 1,012
-57.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.20 ₹3,196
$150 SEK 1,451
-77.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Sweden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$174 ₹16.8K
$941 SEK 9,098
-81.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$112 ₹10.8K
$744 SEK 7,187
-84.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₹38.9K
$1,565 SEK 15.1K
-74.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 ₹24.8K
$1,215 SEK 11.7K
-78.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,263 ₹121.6K
$5,268 SEK 50.9K
-76.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$653 ₹62.8K
$3,325 SEK 32.1K
-80.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Sweden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$424 ₹40.8K
$3,114 SEK 30.1K
-86.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
4.52
99.56%

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

Last update for India: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sweden: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $868 in Sweden. Capital cities: $242 in Delhi vs $1,566 in Stockholm.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $2,959 in Sweden. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 583% higher in Sweden.

Dining out costs 600% more in Sweden.

Public transport is 756% more expensive in Sweden.

Salaries are 643% higher in Sweden, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Sweden.

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
India vs Sweden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Sweden?
At $589 per month in India and $2,015 in Sweden, there's a 242% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Sweden is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Sweden?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Sweden it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Sweden?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Sweden may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

India vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries