Cost of Living Comparison Between India and SwedenCost of Living Comparison Between India and Sweden
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $1,826 in Sweden.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $2,827 in Sweden.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $3,828 in Sweden.
🙂Living in India costs about 79% less than in Sweden on average.
📊India (71% below) and Sweden (36% above) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Sweden: monthly costs span $1,453 to $2,505, compared to $264–$888 in India. City choice carries more weight in Sweden.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Sweden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49₹237
$14.55SEK 136
-82.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20₹1,353
$85.6SEK 799
-83.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.98₹379
$11.39SEK 106
-65.06%
Cappuccino
$1.88₹179
$4.71SEK 43.93
-60.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₹41.98
$2.89SEK 26.99
-84.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₹18.57
$2.33SEK 21.72
-91.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02₹192
$7.95SEK 74.2
-74.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45₹329
$7.96SEK 74.3
-56.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Sweden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.72₹68.3
$1.71SEK 15.95
-57.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52₹49.26
$3.12SEK 29.12
-83.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72₹68.7
$3.73SEK 34.78
-80.70%
Eggs
$0.93₹88.8
$4.37SEK 40.76
-78.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.24₹499
$12.24SEK 114
-57.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07₹292
$12.47SEK 116
-75.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$19.26SEK 180
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.17₹207
$3.15SEK 29.39
-31.11%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76₹72.2
$2.72SEK 25.36
-72.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05₹100
$3.07SEK 28.66
-65.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53₹50.7
$4.53SEK 42.23
-88.30%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₹37.53
$1.76SEK 16.45
-77.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₹46.81
$1.77SEK 16.49
-72.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52₹49.35
$2.34SEK 21.79
-77.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33₹31.13
$1.46SEK 13.59
-77.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05₹386
$7.87SEK 73.5
-48.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39₹704
$11.80SEK 110
-37.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84₹175
$2.06SEK 19.21
-10.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90₹277
$2.26SEK 21.10
28.32%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.65₹538
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Sweden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₹34.59
$3.73SEK 34.85
-90.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.74₹928
$90.9SEK 849
-89.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95₹90.6
$6.23SEK 58.1
-84.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₹28.64
$1.83SEK 17.09
-83.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.73₹165
$62.9SEK 587
-97.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23₹117
$2.02SEK 18.83
-39.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K₹1.3M
$33.2KSEK 309.8K
-58.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K₹2.2M
$35.0KSEK 327.0K
-35.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Sweden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.88₹3,894
$126SEK 1,177
-67.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91₹372
$28.71SEK 268
-86.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81₹744
$38.37SEK 358
-79.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Sweden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.15₹1,538
$42.25SEK 394
-61.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49₹713
$27.41SEK 256
-72.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42₹326
$16.92SEK 158
-79.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Sweden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$69.9₹6,660
$155SEK 1,448
-54.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,793₹170.8K
$2,620SEK 24.5K
-31.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Sweden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83₹2,460
$92.7SEK 865
-72.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61₹2,535
$42.34SEK 395
-37.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.24₹4,309
$103SEK 965
-56.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68₹3,208
$148SEK 1,385
-77.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Sweden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$178₹17.0K
$944SEK 8,810
-81.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115₹10.9K
$740SEK 6,907
-84.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407₹38.8K
$1,580SEK 14.7K
-74.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$264₹25.1K
$1,212SEK 11.3K
-78.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,240₹118.1K
$5,503SEK 51.4K
-77.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$631₹60.1K
$3,605SEK 33.6K
-82.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Sweden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$432₹41.2K
$3,258SEK 30.4K
-86.74%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Sweden: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $127 in India, $870 in Sweden. Capital cities: $239 in Delhi vs $1,589 in Stockholm.
💰National salary averages: $398 in India, $3,091 in Sweden. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 585% higher in Sweden.
⭐Dining out costs 600% more in Sweden.
⭐Public transport is 756% more expensive in Sweden.
⭐Salaries are 677% higher in Sweden, giving Sweden stronger purchasing power.
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 $576 per month in India and $1,979 in Sweden, there's a 244% 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?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Sweden?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Sweden, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or 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.