Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lulea and Stockholm

For one person, living is cheaper in Lulea: $1,820 a month against $2,574 in Stockholm, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lulea
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,820
/mo nomad
Stockholm
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,574
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lulea and in Stockholm

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lulea and in Stockholm actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,820 in Lulea versus $2,574 in Stockholm.

  • Lulea $1,820
  • Stockholm $2,574

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,946 in Lulea versus $3,871 in Stockholm.

  • Lulea $2,946
  • Stockholm $3,871

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,073 in Lulea versus $5,167 in Stockholm.

  • Lulea $4,073
  • Stockholm $5,167

Living in Lulea costs roughly 29% less than in Stockholm, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea 35% above, Stockholm 91% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 SEK 116
$18.12 SEK 180
-35.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.1 SEK 952
$99.6 SEK 986
-3.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 SEK 109
$11.76 SEK 117
-6.12%
Cappuccino
$4.38 SEK 43.41
$4.95 SEK 49.03
-11.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 SEK 24.24
$3.68 SEK 36.46
-33.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 SEK 19.20
$3.16 SEK 31.28
-38.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.56 SEK 84.8
$8.05 SEK 79.8
6.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.41 SEK 93.2
$8.82 SEK 87.4
6.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 SEK 17.99
$1.80 SEK 17.80
1.11%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 SEK 33.84
$3.88 SEK 38.43
-11.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.75 SEK 47.11
$3.83 SEK 37.99
24.02%
Eggs
$4.67 SEK 46.31
$5.14 SEK 50.9
-9.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.48 SEK 124
$12.45 SEK 123
0.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.11 SEK 130
$12.63 SEK 125
3.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.07 SEK 258
$21.90 SEK 217
19.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 SEK 24.16
$3.47 SEK 34.41
-29.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.66 SEK 26.36
$2.74 SEK 27.15
-2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 SEK 23.36
$3.08 SEK 30.54
-23.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 SEK 41.21
$4.48 SEK 44.41
-7.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 SEK 20.69
$1.77 SEK 17.54
18.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 SEK 14.82
$1.79 SEK 17.70
-16.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.30 SEK 32.69
$2.40 SEK 23.76
37.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 12.59
$2.37 SEK 23.50
-46.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06 SEK 70.0
$8.72 SEK 86.4
-19.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.04 SEK 119
$11.99 SEK 119
0.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SEK 17.63
$2.11 SEK 20.90
-15.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SEK 17.53
$2.56 SEK 25.34
-30.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.23 SEK 31.99
$4.34 SEK 42.96
-25.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.5 SEK 560
$107 SEK 1,063
-47.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.73 SEK 86.5
$5.74 SEK 56.9
52.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 SEK 20.33
$1.47 SEK 14.58
39.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$70.8 SEK 702
$57.1 SEK 566
23.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 SEK 17.24
$1.80 SEK 17.86
-3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K SEK 316.5K
$32.4K SEK 321.2K
-1.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K SEK 329.9K
$33.6K SEK 332.8K
-0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 SEK 1,595
$249 SEK 2,469
-35.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.36 SEK 311
$21.60 SEK 214
45.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.51 SEK 263
$40.18 SEK 398
-34.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.47 SEK 450
$46.98 SEK 466
-3.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.02 SEK 347
$38.15 SEK 378
-8.20%
Cinema Ticket
$12.85 SEK 127
$19.09 SEK 189
-32.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 SEK 1,490
$158 SEK 1,569
-5.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,570 SEK 55.2K
$16.4K SEK 162.0K
-65.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 SEK 1,189
$111 SEK 1,104
7.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.64 SEK 323
$59.0 SEK 584
-44.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 SEK 1,188
$138 SEK 1,364
-12.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 SEK 1,593
$186 SEK 1,847
-13.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$783 SEK 7,763
$1,658 SEK 16.4K
-52.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$584 SEK 5,786
$1,079 SEK 10.7K
-45.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,449 SEK 14.4K
$2,982 SEK 29.5K
-51.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 SEK 10.9K
$1,746 SEK 17.3K
-36.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,072 SEK 30.4K
$11.3K SEK 111.8K
-72.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,194 SEK 21.7K
$6,332 SEK 62.7K
-65.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,498 SEK 24.8K
$3,583 SEK 35.5K
-30.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
3.37
14.24%

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

Last update for Lulea: October 11, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lulea
$584
Stockholm
$1.1K 84.8% $495
Groceries & Markets
Lulea
$404
Stockholm
$414 2.5% $10
Eating Out
Lulea
$259
Stockholm
$325 25.7% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
$219
Stockholm
$311 42.1% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
$195
Stockholm
$222 14.1% $27
Getting Around
Lulea
$88
Stockholm
$138 55.7% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
$71
Stockholm
$85 19.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $783 in Lulea and $1,658 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stockholm pays 43% 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: $96.0 in Lulea vs $100 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $404 vs $414 per month, with Lulea cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Lulea
🇸🇪 Stockholm
🕒 Local time
14:39 2:39 PM
14:39 2:39 PM
Same time as Lulea
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,864
984,748 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lulea Stockholm 730 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lulea
  • Stockholm

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 41% 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 43% 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: $783 in Lulea versus $1,658 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 $96.0 versus $100 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 $1,820 in Lulea versus $2,574 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 $1,820 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 41% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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