🙂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: Lulea40% above, Stockholm93% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.56SEK 121
$16.09SEK 155
-21.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6SEK 911
$110SEK 1,062
-14.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60SEK 112
$11.68SEK 113
-0.68%
Cappuccino
$4.87SEK 46.91
$5.20SEK 50.1
-6.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55SEK 24.56
$3.28SEK 31.64
-22.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 19.01
$2.47SEK 23.78
-20.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.57SEK 82.6
$8.51SEK 82.0
0.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.97SEK 96.0
$8.31SEK 80.1
19.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.64
$1.80SEK 17.33
7.22%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42SEK 32.98
$3.41SEK 32.84
0.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.07SEK 48.86
$4.07SEK 39.19
24.57%
Eggs
$4.74SEK 45.70
$4.70SEK 45.33
0.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76SEK 123
$12.77SEK 123
-0.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.05SEK 135
$13.23SEK 127
6.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.00SEK 270
$19.40SEK 187
44.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61SEK 25.15
$3.60SEK 34.66
-27.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76SEK 26.58
$2.90SEK 27.93
-4.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60SEK 25.03
$3.38SEK 32.54
-23.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.36SEK 42.04
$4.59SEK 44.21
-5.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23SEK 21.48
$1.96SEK 18.92
13.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.95
$1.89SEK 18.17
-12.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.48SEK 33.52
$2.52SEK 24.24
38.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44SEK 13.84
$1.61SEK 15.55
-10.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42SEK 71.5
$8.06SEK 77.7
-7.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.34SEK 119
$12.53SEK 121
-1.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.15
$2.19SEK 21.08
-14.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85SEK 17.87
$2.36SEK 22.76
-21.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 32.35
$4.55SEK 43.89
-26.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.3SEK 562
$112SEK 1,080
-47.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.54SEK 91.9
$6.40SEK 61.7
49.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.68
$1.66SEK 15.95
4.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$74.5SEK 718
$63.3SEK 610
17.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 18.22
$1.86SEK 17.92
1.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 310.2K
$33.0KSEK 318.3K
-2.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KSEK 343.7K
$34.5KSEK 332.9K
3.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176SEK 1,692
$227SEK 2,189
-22.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.87SEK 307
$29.59SEK 285
7.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56SEK 275
$42.03SEK 405
-32.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58SEK 468
$46.01SEK 443
5.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.54SEK 352
$38.09SEK 367
-4.07%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73SEK 132
$17.78SEK 171
-22.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163SEK 1,566
$164SEK 1,582
-1.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,827SEK 56.2K
$6,573SEK 63.3K
-11.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124SEK 1,190
$97.6SEK 941
26.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.60SEK 324
$49.76SEK 480
-32.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130SEK 1,252
$120SEK 1,159
7.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170SEK 1,643
$202SEK 1,945
-15.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806SEK 7,765
$1,566SEK 15.1K
-48.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589SEK 5,675
$1,086SEK 10.5K
-45.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,441SEK 13.9K
$2,754SEK 26.5K
-47.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081SEK 10.4K
$1,801SEK 17.4K
-40.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,107SEK 29.9K
$11.8KSEK 113.3K
-73.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,323SEK 22.4K
$6,496SEK 62.6K
-64.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,654SEK 25.6K
$3,643SEK 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.