🙂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: Lulea40% above, Stockholm99% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.44SEK 120
$18.42SEK 177
-32.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.1SEK 954
$103SEK 988
-3.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59SEK 112
$11.43SEK 110
1.40%
Cappuccino
$4.58SEK 44.07
$5.35SEK 51.5
-14.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64SEK 25.39
$3.89SEK 37.43
-32.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 18.94
$3.20SEK 30.85
-38.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.32SEK 89.8
$8.46SEK 81.5
10.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.80SEK 94.4
$9.19SEK 88.5
6.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.01
$1.74SEK 16.80
7.47%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43SEK 33.03
$4.17SEK 40.14
-17.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.91SEK 47.27
$4.09SEK 39.39
20.05%
Eggs
$4.67SEK 44.95
$5.19SEK 49.96
-10.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63SEK 122
$13.23SEK 127
-4.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.62SEK 131
$13.55SEK 131
0.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.73SEK 267
$22.30SEK 215
24.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66SEK 25.59
$3.55SEK 34.19
-25.07%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82SEK 27.20
$2.97SEK 28.63
-5.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50SEK 24.06
$3.17SEK 30.57
-21.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.35SEK 41.88
$4.70SEK 45.23
-7.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22SEK 21.40
$1.87SEK 17.97
18.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.95
$1.80SEK 17.37
-13.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.44SEK 33.16
$2.49SEK 23.95
38.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 12.37
$2.49SEK 23.95
-48.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17SEK 69.1
$9.10SEK 87.7
-21.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.68SEK 122
$12.67SEK 122
0.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.14
$2.14SEK 20.66
-12.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SEK 17.71
$2.56SEK 24.64
-28.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42SEK 32.96
$4.61SEK 44.44
-25.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.6SEK 555
$113SEK 1,085
-48.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.51SEK 91.6
$6.20SEK 59.7
53.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.25SEK 21.67
$1.53SEK 14.74
47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.9SEK 693
$59.2SEK 570
21.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.98
$1.82SEK 17.55
-3.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KSEK 322.7K
$34.5KSEK 332.1K
-2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KSEK 344.4K
$35.1KSEK 338.3K
1.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173SEK 1,663
$281SEK 2,709
-38.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.34SEK 312
$22.69SEK 218
42.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.89SEK 269
$40.70SEK 392
-31.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.35SEK 475
$48.06SEK 463
2.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.98SEK 356
$41.41SEK 399
-10.70%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46SEK 130
$19.78SEK 191
-31.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,552
$172SEK 1,658
-6.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,808SEK 55.9K
$16.8KSEK 162.2K
-65.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$123SEK 1,182
$120SEK 1,157
2.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.18SEK 329
$57.8SEK 557
-40.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126SEK 1,211
$142SEK 1,365
-11.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$166SEK 1,599
$203SEK 1,952
-18.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806SEK 7,766
$1,787SEK 17.2K
-54.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$600SEK 5,775
$1,096SEK 10.6K
-45.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,533SEK 14.8K
$3,323SEK 32.0K
-53.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,151SEK 11.1K
$1,859SEK 17.9K
-38.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,240SEK 31.2K
$11.7KSEK 113.0K
-72.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,346SEK 22.6K
$6,611SEK 63.7K
-64.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,633SEK 25.4K
$3,662SEK 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.