Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, OR and Stockholm Cost of Living Comparison Between Portland, OR and Stockholm

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,928 per month in Portland, OR vs $2,582 in Stockholm, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,345 per month in Portland, OR vs $3,840 in Stockholm, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,762 per month in Portland, OR vs $5,098 in Stockholm, rent included.

Portland, OR costs about 13% more than Stockholm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Portland, OR and Stockholm sit above the global median – Portland, OR by 119%, Stockholm by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$16.09 SEK 156
26.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6 $89.6
$110 SEK 1,067
-18.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.21 $12.21
$11.68 SEK 113
4.54%
Cappuccino
$4.78 $4.78
$5.20 SEK 50.3
-8.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.28 SEK 31.79
-21.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.47 SEK 23.89
-20.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.84 $6.84
$8.51 SEK 82.4
-19.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 $5.83
$8.31 SEK 80.5
-29.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.80 SEK 17.41
-43.33%
White Bread (500g)
$4.17 $4.17
$3.41 SEK 32.99
22.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.31 $4.31
$4.07 SEK 39.38
5.90%
Eggs
$4.66 $4.66
$4.70 SEK 45.54
-0.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.96 $14.96
$12.77 SEK 124
17.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.50 $11.50
$13.23 SEK 128
-13.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.42 $15.42
$19.40 SEK 188
-20.52%
Apples (1kg)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.60 SEK 34.83
40.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.90 SEK 28.06
-31.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$3.38 SEK 32.69
31.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.99 $4.99
$4.59 SEK 44.42
8.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.96 SEK 19.01
46.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.89 SEK 18.25
6.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.52 SEK 24.35
-10.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$1.61 SEK 15.63
37.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.12 $11.12
$8.06 SEK 78.0
37.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$12.53 SEK 121
19.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$2.19 SEK 21.18
1.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.72 $4.72
$2.36 SEK 22.87
100.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.88 $2.88
$4.55 SEK 44.09
-36.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$101 $101
$112 SEK 1,085
-9.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.73 $3.73
$6.40 SEK 61.9
-41.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.66 SEK 16.03
18.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.83 $35.83
$63.3 SEK 613
-43.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.86 SEK 18.00
-42.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$33.0K SEK 319.8K
2.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$34.5K SEK 334.4K
-24.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$227 SEK 2,200
-2.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.7 $68.7
$29.59 SEK 287
132.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.7 $62.7
$42.03 SEK 407
49.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.43 $40.43
$46.01 SEK 445
-12.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.7 $52.7
$38.09 SEK 369
38.28%
Cinema Ticket
$12.74 $12.74
$17.78 SEK 172
-28.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,778 $1,778
$164 SEK 1,590
983.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K $19.2K
$6,573 SEK 63.6K
191.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 $63.2
$97.6 SEK 945
-35.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.79 $46.79
$49.76 SEK 482
-5.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$120 SEK 1,165
-13.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$202 SEK 1,954
-42.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,844 $1,844
$1,566 SEK 15.2K
17.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,525 $1,525
$1,086 SEK 10.5K
40.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,439 $3,439
$2,754 SEK 26.7K
24.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,589 $2,589
$1,801 SEK 17.4K
43.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,968 $3,968
$11.8K SEK 113.9K
-66.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,336 $3,336
$6,496 SEK 62.9K
-48.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portland, OR
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,692 $4,692
$3,643 SEK 35.3K
28.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.41
4.16
54.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Portland, OR: July 14, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,844 in Portland, OR versus $1,566 in Stockholm. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 29% higher in Portland, OR, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90.0 in Portland, OR versus $110 in Stockholm. Groceries tell a different story – $415 in Portland, OR vs $401 in Stockholm – so Stockholm wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Portland, OR vs Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Portland, OR and in Stockholm compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,928 in Portland, OR, $2,582 in Stockholm – roughly 13% apart. Portland, OR costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Portland, OR compared to Stockholm?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,392 per month in Portland, OR and $3,873 in Stockholm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Portland, OR and Stockholm?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stockholm, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Portland, OR or Stockholm?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,928 in Portland, OR and $2,582 in Stockholm. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Portland, OR and in Stockholm?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Stockholm. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is feasible on a $2,000 budget?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,928 in Portland, OR and $2,582 in Stockholm. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
How does quality of life compare between Portland, OR and Stockholm?
It depends on your priorities. Stockholm has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,582 in Stockholm to $2,928 in Portland, OR. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Portland, OR or Stockholm safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Portland, OR and Stockholm?
If budget matters most, go with Stockholm. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portland, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Portland, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities