🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,949 in Lund versus $2,968 in Northampton, MA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,033 in Lund versus $4,276 in Northampton, MA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,117 in Lund versus $5,584 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: Lund45% above, Northampton, MA121% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.42SEK 118
$17.18$17.18
-27.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.7SEK 810
$80.1$80.1
7.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98SEK 113
$9.64$9.64
24.27%
Cappuccino
$5.01SEK 47.44
$4.54$4.54
10.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83SEK 26.76
$2.31$2.31
22.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 19.60
$1.56$1.56
32.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.27SEK 78.3
$4.87$4.87
69.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.53SEK 71.2
$6.11$6.11
23.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62SEK 15.32
$1.05$1.05
54.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.23SEK 21.09
$3.90$3.90
-42.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92SEK 27.62
$5.60$5.60
-47.86%
Eggs
$4.42SEK 41.78
$5.42$5.42
-18.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.89SEK 122
$13.87$13.87
-7.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.41SEK 108
$14.51$14.51
-21.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.35SEK 164
$17.33$17.33
0.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20SEK 30.31
$4.60$4.60
-30.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.89SEK 27.37
$1.42$1.42
103.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90SEK 27.43
$3.50$3.50
-17.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.42SEK 41.80
$5.00$5.00
-11.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 15.83
$3.04$3.04
-45.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SEK 15.45
$2.87$2.87
-43.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.63SEK 24.86
$3.12$3.12
-15.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 12.18
$1.77$1.77
-27.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.10SEK 76.7
$14.81$14.81
-45.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.86SEK 112
$16.38$16.38
-27.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04SEK 19.25
$1.84$1.84
10.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 20.32
$1.99$1.99
8.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.42SEK 32.37
$2.02$2.02
69.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.2SEK 636
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.40SEK 51.1
$4.89$4.89
10.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SEK 17.99
$2.09$2.09
-9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.6SEK 592
$27.07$27.07
131.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98SEK 18.70
$0.86$0.86
130.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 310.6K
$30.1K$30.1K
9.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KSEK 324.4K
$24.8K$24.8K
37.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123SEK 1,164
$132$132
-6.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.49SEK 270
$58.0$58.0
-50.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.60SEK 394
$77.4$77.4
-46.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.20SEK 371
$52.3$52.3
-25.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.29SEK 230
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.86SEK 169
$14.90$14.90
19.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176SEK 1,661
$1,421$1,421
-87.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,218SEK 39.9K
$27.6K$27.6K
-84.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.1SEK 749
$23.20$23.20
241.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3SEK 571
$45.31$45.31
33.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104SEK 984
$81.8$81.8
27.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127SEK 1,203
$104$104
22.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$970SEK 9,181
$2,076$2,076
-53.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$757SEK 7,159
$1,725$1,725
-56.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644SEK 15.6K
$2,672$2,672
-38.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,314SEK 12.4K
$2,798$2,798
-53.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,660SEK 63.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,858SEK 36.5K
$2,802$2,802
37.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,140SEK 29.7K
$3,952$3,952
-20.55%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Northampton, MA: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $970 in Lund and $2,076 in Northampton, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Northampton, MA pays 26% 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: $86.0 in Lund vs $80.0 in Northampton, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $355 vs $425, 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 52% 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 Northampton, MA?
On paper, Northampton, MA earns 26% less. 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 vs Northampton, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $970 in Lund versus $2,076 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 Northampton, MA?
Childcare runs $176 in Lund versus $1,421 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 vs Northampton, MA?
Dining out is cheaper in Lund – a meal for two runs $86.0 versus $80.0 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 Northampton, MA?
At $1,949 in Lund versus $2,968 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 $1,949 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 52% less than in Northampton, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.