Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Stockholm Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Stockholm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,919 in Lulea versus $2,732 in Stockholm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,101 in Lulea versus $4,130 in Stockholm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,283 in Lulea versus $5,527 in Stockholm.

Living in Lulea costs roughly 30% less than in Stockholm, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea 40% above, Stockholm 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.44 SEK 120
$18.42 SEK 177
-32.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.1 SEK 954
$103 SEK 988
-3.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.59 SEK 112
$11.43 SEK 110
1.40%
Cappuccino
$4.58 SEK 44.07
$5.35 SEK 51.5
-14.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 SEK 25.39
$3.89 SEK 37.43
-32.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 SEK 18.94
$3.20 SEK 30.85
-38.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.32 SEK 89.8
$8.46 SEK 81.5
10.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.80 SEK 94.4
$9.19 SEK 88.5
6.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 SEK 18.01
$1.74 SEK 16.80
7.47%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 SEK 33.03
$4.17 SEK 40.14
-17.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.91 SEK 47.27
$4.09 SEK 39.39
20.05%
Eggs
$4.67 SEK 44.95
$5.19 SEK 49.96
-10.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.63 SEK 122
$13.23 SEK 127
-4.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.62 SEK 131
$13.55 SEK 131
0.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.73 SEK 267
$22.30 SEK 215
24.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 SEK 25.59
$3.55 SEK 34.19
-25.07%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 SEK 27.20
$2.97 SEK 28.63
-5.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 SEK 24.06
$3.17 SEK 30.57
-21.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.35 SEK 41.88
$4.70 SEK 45.23
-7.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.22 SEK 21.40
$1.87 SEK 17.97
18.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 SEK 14.95
$1.80 SEK 17.37
-13.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.44 SEK 33.16
$2.49 SEK 23.95
38.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 SEK 12.37
$2.49 SEK 23.95
-48.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 SEK 69.1
$9.10 SEK 87.7
-21.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.68 SEK 122
$12.67 SEK 122
0.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 SEK 18.14
$2.14 SEK 20.66
-12.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 SEK 17.71
$2.56 SEK 24.64
-28.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.42 SEK 32.96
$4.61 SEK 44.44
-25.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.6 SEK 555
$113 SEK 1,085
-48.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.51 SEK 91.6
$6.20 SEK 59.7
53.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.25 SEK 21.67
$1.53 SEK 14.74
47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.9 SEK 693
$59.2 SEK 570
21.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 SEK 16.98
$1.82 SEK 17.55
-3.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K SEK 322.7K
$34.5K SEK 332.1K
-2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K SEK 344.4K
$35.1K SEK 338.3K
1.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 SEK 1,663
$281 SEK 2,709
-38.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.34 SEK 312
$22.69 SEK 218
42.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.89 SEK 269
$40.70 SEK 392
-31.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.35 SEK 475
$48.06 SEK 463
2.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.98 SEK 356
$41.41 SEK 399
-10.70%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46 SEK 130
$19.78 SEK 191
-31.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 SEK 1,552
$172 SEK 1,658
-6.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,808 SEK 55.9K
$16.8K SEK 162.2K
-65.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123 SEK 1,182
$120 SEK 1,157
2.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.18 SEK 329
$57.8 SEK 557
-40.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 SEK 1,211
$142 SEK 1,365
-11.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166 SEK 1,599
$203 SEK 1,952
-18.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 SEK 7,766
$1,787 SEK 17.2K
-54.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$600 SEK 5,775
$1,096 SEK 10.6K
-45.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,533 SEK 14.8K
$3,323 SEK 32.0K
-53.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,151 SEK 11.1K
$1,859 SEK 17.9K
-38.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,240 SEK 31.2K
$11.7K SEK 113.0K
-72.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,346 SEK 22.6K
$6,611 SEK 63.7K
-64.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,633 SEK 25.4K
$3,662 SEK 35.3K
-28.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.31
16.31%

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

Last update for Lulea: September 1, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,787 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stockholm pays 39% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $99.0 in Lulea vs $103 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $420 vs $433 per month, with Lulea 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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Stockholm?
Lulea wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Stockholm. 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 Stockholm?
On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Stockholm. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lulea compared to Stockholm?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Lulea versus $1,787 in Stockholm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lulea or in Stockholm?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Stockholm. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea and in Stockholm?
Dining out is cheaper in Lulea – a meal for two runs $99.0 versus $103 in Stockholm. 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 Stockholm?
At $1,919 in Lulea versus $2,732 in Stockholm, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lulea but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. 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 Stockholm?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lulea delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,919 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 Stockholm?
Safety-wise, Lulea and Stockholm 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 42% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lulea vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities