Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Milan Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Milan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,865 in Lulea versus $2,467 in Milan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,060 in Lulea versus $3,845 in Milan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,256 in Lulea versus $5,223 in Milan.

Living in Lulea costs roughly 24% less than in Milan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea 40% above, Milan 85% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Milan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.56 SEK 121
$23.53 €20.56
-46.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6 SEK 911
$91.5 €79.9
3.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.60 SEK 112
$12.72 €11.12
-8.81%
Cappuccino
$4.87 SEK 46.91
$2.10 €1.84
131.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 SEK 24.56
$3.35 €2.93
-23.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 SEK 19.01
$1.44 €1.26
36.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.57 SEK 82.6
$7.02 €6.13
22.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.97 SEK 96.0
$5.64 €4.93
76.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Milan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 18.64
$1.77 €1.54
9.04%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 SEK 32.98
$2.84 €2.48
20.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.07 SEK 48.86
$3.28 €2.87
54.57%
Eggs
$4.74 SEK 45.70
$4.26 €3.72
11.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 SEK 123
$19.76 €17.27
-35.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.05 SEK 135
$12.96 €11.32
8.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.00 SEK 270
$24.27 €21.20
15.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 SEK 25.15
$2.83 €2.48
-7.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.76 SEK 26.58
$2.38 €2.08
15.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 SEK 25.03
$3.34 €2.91
-22.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.36 SEK 42.04
$3.90 €3.41
11.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 SEK 21.48
$2.54 €2.22
-12.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 15.95
$2.22 €1.94
-25.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.48 SEK 33.52
$1.64 €1.43
112.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SEK 13.84
$0.70 €0.61
105.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42 SEK 71.5
$7.13 €6.23
4.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.34 SEK 119
$9.28 €8.11
32.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 SEK 18.15
$2.46 €2.15
-23.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 SEK 17.87
$3.14 €2.74
-41.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Milan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 32.35
$2.53 €2.21
32.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.3 SEK 562
$44.83 €39.17
30.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.54 SEK 91.9
$7.97 €6.96
19.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 SEK 16.68
$2.66 €2.33
-34.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$74.5 SEK 718
$39.69 €34.68
87.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 18.22
$2.05 €1.79
-7.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K SEK 310.2K
$34.1K €29.8K
-5.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K SEK 343.7K
$36.1K €31.6K
-1.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Milan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 SEK 1,692
$215 €188
-18.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.87 SEK 307
$11.65 €10.18
173.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56 SEK 275
$31.28 €27.33
-8.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Milan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.58 SEK 468
$76.0 €66.4
-36.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.54 SEK 352
$37.56 €32.81
-2.72%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 SEK 132
$11.38 €9.94
20.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Milan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 SEK 1,566
$878 €767
-81.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,827 SEK 56.2K
$16.4K €14.3K
-64.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Milan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124 SEK 1,190
$112 €98.0
10.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.60 SEK 324
$53.4 €46.62
-37.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 SEK 1,252
$115 €101
12.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 SEK 1,643
$169 €148
0.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Milan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 SEK 7,765
$1,573 €1,375
-48.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$589 SEK 5,675
$1,124 €982
-47.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 SEK 13.9K
$3,208 €2,803
-55.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 SEK 10.4K
$2,050 €1,791
-47.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,107 SEK 29.9K
$10.7K €9,311
-70.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,323 SEK 22.4K
$5,344 €4,669
-56.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Milan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,654 SEK 25.6K
$2,208 €1,929
20.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.2
3.25
29.23%

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

Last update for Lulea: July 11, 2026

Last update for Milan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,573 in Milan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lulea pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $95.0 in Lulea vs $91.0 in Milan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 vs $399 per month, with Milan cheaper across the board.

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
Lulea vs Milan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Milan?
Lulea wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Milan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lulea the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or in Milan?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Lulea, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lulea compared to Milan?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Lulea versus $1,573 in Milan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lulea or in Milan?
Shoppers in Milan pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea and in Milan?
Dining out is cheaper in Lulea – a meal for two runs $95.0 versus $91.0 in Milan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lulea or in Milan?
At $1,865 in Lulea versus $2,467 in Milan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lulea but tight or insufficient in Milan. The gap between the two cities makes Lulea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Milan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lulea delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,865 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lulea hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Milan?
Safety-wise, Lulea and Milan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lulea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Milan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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