🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,894 in Lund versus $2,965 in Northampton, MA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,956 in Lund versus $4,315 in Northampton, MA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,019 in Lund versus $5,664 in Northampton, MA.
🙂Living in Lund costs roughly 36% less than in Northampton, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lund41% above, Northampton, MA121% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.84SEK 118
$17.23$17.23
-25.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4SEK 804
$80.2$80.2
8.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.94SEK 110
$9.53$9.53
25.29%
Cappuccino
$5.06SEK 46.55
$4.41$4.41
14.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94SEK 27.06
$2.21$2.21
33.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 19.65
$1.62$1.62
32.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.35SEK 76.8
$4.99$4.99
67.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28SEK 66.9
$6.09$6.09
19.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61SEK 14.86
$1.02$1.02
57.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20SEK 20.26
$3.99$3.99
-44.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.95SEK 27.18
$5.65$5.65
-47.79%
Eggs
$4.36SEK 40.14
$5.45$5.45
-20.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.73SEK 117
$14.15$14.15
-10.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.62SEK 107
$14.57$14.57
-20.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.12SEK 158
$17.75$17.75
-3.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28SEK 30.19
$4.77$4.77
-31.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87SEK 26.36
$1.47$1.47
95.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.91SEK 26.82
$3.59$3.59
-18.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.54SEK 41.78
$4.79$4.79
-5.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73SEK 15.90
$2.91$2.91
-40.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SEK 15.01
$2.89$2.89
-43.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52SEK 23.14
$3.26$3.26
-22.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 11.83
$1.83$1.83
-29.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20SEK 75.4
$14.51$14.51
-43.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.02SEK 101
$14.98$14.98
-26.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05SEK 18.88
$1.76$1.76
16.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SEK 19.92
$2.02$2.02
7.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.40SEK 31.28
$2.03$2.03
67.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.4SEK 620
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.38SEK 49.48
$4.86$4.86
10.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89SEK 17.37
$2.08$2.08
-9.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$64.2SEK 590
$27.46$27.46
133.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96SEK 18.02
$0.79$0.79
148.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 296.6K
$30.2K$30.2K
6.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KSEK 309.5K
$25.3K$25.3K
33.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SEK 1,119
$135$135
-9.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.24SEK 260
$58.5$58.5
-51.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.60SEK 383
$76.2$76.2
-45.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.72SEK 365
$53.5$53.5
-25.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.39SEK 224
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.27SEK 168
$14.87$14.87
22.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178SEK 1,635
$1,412$1,412
-87.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,200SEK 38.6K
$28.3K$28.3K
-85.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.3SEK 729
$23.16$23.16
242.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.7SEK 567
$46.04$46.04
33.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SEK 980
$84.5$84.5
25.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127SEK 1,169
$102$102
25.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$958SEK 8,810
$2,066$2,066
-53.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$759SEK 6,987
$1,778$1,778
-57.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630SEK 15.0K
$2,677$2,677
-39.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,305SEK 12.0K
$2,829$2,829
-53.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,585SEK 60.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,854SEK 35.5K
$2,750$2,750
40.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lund
Northampton, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,168SEK 29.1K
$3,862$3,862
-17.97%
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Northampton, MA: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $958 in Lund and $2,066 in Northampton, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Northampton, MA pays 22% 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: $87 in Lund vs $80 in Northampton, MA. Groceries flip the comparison at $354 vs $426, 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 57% 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 22% 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: $958 in Lund versus $2,066 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 $178 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 vs Northampton, MA?
Dining out is cheaper in Lund – a meal for two runs $87.0 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 $1,894 in Lund versus $2,965 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 $1,894 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 57% less than in Northampton, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.