🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,922 in Lund versus $2,894 in Northampton, MA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,961 in Lund versus $4,182 in Northampton, MA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,999 in Lund versus $5,471 in Northampton, MA.
🌍Living in Lund costs roughly 34% less than in Northampton, MA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lund44% above, Northampton, MA117% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.55SEK 122
$17.72$17.72
-29.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.6SEK 859
$79.2$79.2
11.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.86SEK 115
$9.33$9.33
27.12%
Cappuccino
$4.86SEK 47.15
$4.63$4.63
4.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93SEK 28.38
$2.30$2.30
27.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SEK 21.00
$1.62$1.62
33.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.41SEK 81.6
$5.06$5.06
66.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59SEK 73.6
$5.89$5.89
28.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62SEK 15.72
$1.06$1.06
52.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14SEK 20.73
$3.85$3.85
-44.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.08SEK 29.86
$5.38$5.38
-42.75%
Eggs
$4.40SEK 42.66
$5.44$5.44
-19.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.82SEK 124
$14.10$14.10
-9.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.44SEK 111
$14.28$14.28
-19.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.06SEK 165
$17.21$17.21
-0.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27SEK 31.72
$4.73$4.73
-30.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88SEK 27.90
$1.43$1.43
101.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83SEK 27.45
$3.47$3.47
-18.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31SEK 41.82
$4.79$4.79
-10.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68SEK 16.29
$2.92$2.92
-42.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64SEK 15.87
$2.91$2.91
-43.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57SEK 24.89
$3.19$3.19
-19.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30SEK 12.57
$1.74$1.74
-25.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.86SEK 76.3
$14.87$14.87
-47.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.23SEK 109
$16.28$16.28
-31.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 19.13
$1.81$1.81
8.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16SEK 20.99
$2.04$2.04
5.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.31SEK 32.07
$2.04$2.04
62.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.5SEK 635
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67SEK 55.0
$4.95$4.95
14.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83SEK 17.77
$2.10$2.10
-12.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.1SEK 612
$27.30$27.30
131.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 18.36
$0.80$0.80
136.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 313.6K
$29.8K$29.8K
8.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 329.0K
$25.0K$25.0K
35.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SEK 1,185
$135$135
-9.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.02SEK 281
$58.1$58.1
-50.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.92SEK 397
$76.4$76.4
-46.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.02SEK 378
$52.3$52.3
-25.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.97SEK 232
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.24SEK 177
$14.87$14.87
22.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,705
$1,412$1,412
-87.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,187SEK 40.6K
$28.0K$28.0K
-85.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.8SEK 774
$23.48$23.48
239.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.8SEK 599
$46.85$46.85
31.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SEK 1,024
$82.8$82.8
27.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128SEK 1,239
$101$101
26.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$970SEK 9,409
$2,081$2,081
-53.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757SEK 7,337
$1,780$1,780
-57.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,598SEK 15.5K
$2,608$2,608
-38.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,307SEK 12.7K
$2,872$2,872
-54.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,417SEK 62.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,691SEK 35.8K
$2,807$2,807
31.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,987SEK 29.0K
$3,855$3,855
-22.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
6.45
-25.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lund: July 20, 2026
Last update for Northampton, MA: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $970 in Lund and $2,081 in Northampton, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Northampton, MA pays 29% 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: $89.0 in Lund vs $79.0 in Northampton, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $352 vs $422, with Lund 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
Lund vs Northampton, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lund or Northampton, MA?
Lund wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Northampton, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lund the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lund or in Northampton, MA?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Northampton, MA. 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 Lund compared to Northampton, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $970 in Lund versus $2,081 in Northampton, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lund and in Northampton, MA?
Childcare runs $176 in Lund versus $1,412 in Northampton, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Lund and in Northampton, MA?
Dining out is cheaper in Lund – a meal for two runs $89.0 versus $79.0 in Northampton, MA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lund or in Northampton, MA?
At $1,922 in Lund versus $2,894 in Northampton, MA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lund but tight or insufficient in Northampton, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Lund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lund or Northampton, MA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lund delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,922 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lund hard to pass up.
How safe is Lund compared to Northampton, MA?
Safety-wise, Lund and Northampton, MA 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 Lund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Northampton, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.