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: $1,865 in Lulea versus $2,582 in Stockholm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,060 in Lulea versus $3,840 in Stockholm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,256 in Lulea versus $5,098 in Stockholm.

Living in Lulea costs roughly 28% less than in Stockholm, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea 40% above, Stockholm 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.56 SEK 121
$16.09 SEK 155
-21.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6 SEK 911
$110 SEK 1,062
-14.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.60 SEK 112
$11.68 SEK 113
-0.68%
Cappuccino
$4.87 SEK 46.91
$5.20 SEK 50.1
-6.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 SEK 24.56
$3.28 SEK 31.64
-22.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 SEK 19.01
$2.47 SEK 23.78
-20.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.57 SEK 82.6
$8.51 SEK 82.0
0.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.97 SEK 96.0
$8.31 SEK 80.1
19.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 18.64
$1.80 SEK 17.33
7.22%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 SEK 32.98
$3.41 SEK 32.84
0.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.07 SEK 48.86
$4.07 SEK 39.19
24.57%
Eggs
$4.74 SEK 45.70
$4.70 SEK 45.33
0.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 SEK 123
$12.77 SEK 123
-0.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.05 SEK 135
$13.23 SEK 127
6.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$28.00 SEK 270
$19.40 SEK 187
44.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 SEK 25.15
$3.60 SEK 34.66
-27.50%
Banana (1kg)
$2.76 SEK 26.58
$2.90 SEK 27.93
-4.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.60 SEK 25.03
$3.38 SEK 32.54
-23.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.36 SEK 42.04
$4.59 SEK 44.21
-5.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 SEK 21.48
$1.96 SEK 18.92
13.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 15.95
$1.89 SEK 18.17
-12.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.48 SEK 33.52
$2.52 SEK 24.24
38.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 SEK 13.84
$1.61 SEK 15.55
-10.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42 SEK 71.5
$8.06 SEK 77.7
-7.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.34 SEK 119
$12.53 SEK 121
-1.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 SEK 18.15
$2.19 SEK 21.08
-14.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 SEK 17.87
$2.36 SEK 22.76
-21.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 32.35
$4.55 SEK 43.89
-26.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.3 SEK 562
$112 SEK 1,080
-47.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.54 SEK 91.9
$6.40 SEK 61.7
49.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 SEK 16.68
$1.66 SEK 15.95
4.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$74.5 SEK 718
$63.3 SEK 610
17.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 18.22
$1.86 SEK 17.92
1.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K SEK 310.2K
$33.0K SEK 318.3K
-2.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K SEK 343.7K
$34.5K SEK 332.9K
3.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 SEK 1,692
$227 SEK 2,189
-22.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.87 SEK 307
$29.59 SEK 285
7.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56 SEK 275
$42.03 SEK 405
-32.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.58 SEK 468
$46.01 SEK 443
5.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.54 SEK 352
$38.09 SEK 367
-4.07%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 SEK 132
$17.78 SEK 171
-22.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 SEK 1,566
$164 SEK 1,582
-1.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,827 SEK 56.2K
$6,573 SEK 63.3K
-11.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124 SEK 1,190
$97.6 SEK 941
26.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.60 SEK 324
$49.76 SEK 480
-32.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 SEK 1,252
$120 SEK 1,159
7.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 SEK 1,643
$202 SEK 1,945
-15.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 SEK 7,765
$1,566 SEK 15.1K
-48.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$589 SEK 5,675
$1,086 SEK 10.5K
-45.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,441 SEK 13.9K
$2,754 SEK 26.5K
-47.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 SEK 10.4K
$1,801 SEK 17.4K
-40.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,107 SEK 29.9K
$11.8K SEK 113.3K
-73.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,323 SEK 22.4K
$6,496 SEK 62.6K
-64.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,654 SEK 25.6K
$3,643 SEK 35.1K
-27.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.2
4.16
0.96%

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

Last update for Lulea: July 11, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,566 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stockholm pays 37% 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: $95.0 in Lulea vs $110 in Stockholm. Groceries flip the comparison at $426 vs $401, with Stockholm cheaper for home cooking.

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 38% 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 37% 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 $1,566 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?
Shoppers in Stockholm pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea and in Stockholm?
Dining out is cheaper in Lulea – a meal for two runs $95.0 versus $110 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 $1,865 in Lulea versus $2,582 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 $1,865 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 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 38% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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