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 $1,826 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
$14.55 SEK 136
-82.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20 ₹1,353
$85.6 SEK 799
-83.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 ₹379
$11.39 SEK 106
-65.06%
Cappuccino
$1.88 ₹179
$4.71 SEK 43.93
-60.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.98
$2.89 SEK 26.99
-84.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.57
$2.33 SEK 21.72
-91.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹192
$7.95 SEK 74.2
-74.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ₹329
$7.96 SEK 74.3
-56.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Sweden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.3
$1.71 SEK 15.95
-57.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.26
$3.12 SEK 29.12
-83.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.7
$3.73 SEK 34.78
-80.70%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹88.8
$4.37 SEK 40.76
-78.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹499
$12.24 SEK 114
-57.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ₹292
$12.47 SEK 116
-75.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$19.26 SEK 180
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹207
$3.15 SEK 29.39
-31.11%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.2
$2.72 SEK 25.36
-72.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹100
$3.07 SEK 28.66
-65.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.7
$4.53 SEK 42.23
-88.30%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.53
$1.76 SEK 16.45
-77.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.81
$1.77 SEK 16.49
-72.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.35
$2.34 SEK 21.79
-77.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.13
$1.46 SEK 13.59
-77.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹386
$7.87 SEK 73.5
-48.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₹704
$11.80 SEK 110
-37.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$2.06 SEK 19.21
-10.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₹277
$2.26 SEK 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
$3.73 SEK 34.85
-90.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 ₹928
$90.9 SEK 849
-89.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹90.6
$6.23 SEK 58.1
-84.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.64
$1.83 SEK 17.09
-83.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 ₹165
$62.9 SEK 587
-97.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹117
$2.02 SEK 18.83
-39.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$33.2K SEK 309.8K
-58.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K ₹2.2M
$35.0K SEK 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
$126 SEK 1,177
-67.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 ₹372
$28.71 SEK 268
-86.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81 ₹744
$38.37 SEK 358
-79.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Sweden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,538
$42.25 SEK 394
-61.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 ₹713
$27.41 SEK 256
-72.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹326
$16.92 SEK 158
-79.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Sweden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.9 ₹6,660
$155 SEK 1,448
-54.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,793 ₹170.8K
$2,620 SEK 24.5K
-31.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Sweden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83 ₹2,460
$92.7 SEK 865
-72.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61 ₹2,535
$42.34 SEK 395
-37.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.24 ₹4,309
$103 SEK 965
-56.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68 ₹3,208
$148 SEK 1,385
-77.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Sweden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹17.0K
$944 SEK 8,810
-81.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹10.9K
$740 SEK 6,907
-84.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₹38.8K
$1,580 SEK 14.7K
-74.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.1K
$1,212 SEK 11.3K
-78.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 ₹118.1K
$5,503 SEK 51.4K
-77.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹60.1K
$3,605 SEK 33.6K
-82.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Sweden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.2K
$3,258 SEK 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.

India vs other spots: cost of living compared

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