Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sala, Sweden and Lund

For one person, living is cheaper in Sala: $1,555 a month against $1,859 in Lund, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sala, Sweden
Lund, Sweden
Sala
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,555
/mo nomad
Lund
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,859
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sala and in Lund

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sala and in Lund actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,555 in Sala versus $1,859 in Lund.

  • Sala $1,555
  • Lund $1,859

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,301 in Sala versus $3,013 in Lund.

  • Sala $2,301
  • Lund $3,013

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,046 in Sala versus $4,167 in Lund.

  • Sala $3,046
  • Lund $4,167

Living in Sala costs roughly 16% less than in Lund, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sala 14% above, Lund 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sala
Lund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.16 SEK 119
$13.19 SEK 129
-7.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 SEK 590
$90.6 SEK 889
-33.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 SEK 96.9
$11.83 SEK 116
-16.57%
Cappuccino
$3.04 SEK 29.84
$4.66 SEK 45.70
-34.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 SEK 17.05
$2.81 SEK 27.62
-38.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 SEK 21.97
$2.05 SEK 20.09
9.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.19 SEK 70.5
$7.81 SEK 76.7
-7.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24 SEK 71.1
$6.83 SEK 67.1
6.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sala
Lund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 SEK 16.89
$1.68 SEK 16.49
2.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 SEK 25.25
$2.49 SEK 24.44
3.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.42 SEK 33.61
$3.52 SEK 34.52
-2.84%
Eggs
$5.26 SEK 51.6
$4.40 SEK 43.15
19.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.30 SEK 111
$12.62 SEK 124
-10.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.99 SEK 127
$11.93 SEK 117
8.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.54 SEK 221
$15.61 SEK 153
44.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 28.43
$2.99 SEK 29.39
-3.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 26.21
$2.52 SEK 24.70
5.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 SEK 26.32
$2.84 SEK 27.83
-5.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 SEK 45.05
$4.53 SEK 44.47
1.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 SEK 14.21
$1.66 SEK 16.28
-12.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 SEK 11.11
$1.37 SEK 13.49
-17.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 SEK 24.81
$2.57 SEK 25.20
-1.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 SEK 10.14
$1.54 SEK 15.13
-33.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96 SEK 68.3
$7.76 SEK 76.1
-10.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 SEK 59.0
$10.98 SEK 108
-45.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 SEK 19.70
$1.92 SEK 18.84
4.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 SEK 17.30
$2.76 SEK 27.12
-36.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Sala
Lund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 SEK 29.25
$3.28 SEK 32.17
-9.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.73 SEK 203
$62.8 SEK 616
-66.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.86 SEK 57.5
$5.09 SEK 49.98
15.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 SEK 17.48
$1.06 SEK 10.45
67.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$81.0 SEK 795
$41.02 SEK 403
97.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 16.70
$1.74 SEK 17.10
-2.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K SEK 332.6K
$32.7K SEK 320.6K
3.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K SEK 330.0K
$34.3K SEK 337.1K
-2.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sala
Lund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 SEK 1,742
$79.2 SEK 777
124.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.84 SEK 195
$28.76 SEK 282
-31.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.07 SEK 383
$42.32 SEK 415
-7.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sala
Lund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.69 SEK 448
$36.09 SEK 354
26.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.95 SEK 196
$27.83 SEK 273
-28.31%
Cinema Ticket
$16.33 SEK 160
$15.04 SEK 148
8.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sala
Lund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$221 SEK 2,164
$158 SEK 1,551
39.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,219 SEK 12.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sala
Lund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53 SEK 437
$79.0 SEK 775
-43.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 SEK 342
$57.8 SEK 568
-39.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.4 SEK 514
$102 SEK 1,003
-48.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0 SEK 540
$125 SEK 1,228
-56.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sala
Lund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 SEK 7,028
$903 SEK 8,863
-20.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$516 SEK 5,065
$767 SEK 7,531
-32.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$921 SEK 9,035
$1,832 SEK 18.0K
-49.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$713 SEK 7,001
$1,482 SEK 14.5K
-51.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,986 SEK 39.1K
$5,909 SEK 58.0K
-32.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,798 SEK 27.5K
$3,688 SEK 36.2K
-24.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sala
Lund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,432 SEK 23.9K
$2,947 SEK 28.9K
-17.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.8
3.03
-7.59%

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

Last update for Sala: October 25, 2026

Last update for Lund: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sala
$516
Lund
$767 48.7% $251
Groceries & Markets
Sala
$363
Lund
$355 2.1% $7.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sala
$236
Lund
$150 36.4% $86
Eating Out
Sala
$230
Lund
$269 17.1% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Sala
$84
Lund
$164 94.9% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Sala
$78
Lund
$66 15.5% $12
Getting Around
Sala
$47
Lund
$86 82.1% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Sala and $903 in Lund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lund pays 21% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $60 in Sala vs $91 in Lund. Groceries flip the comparison at $363 vs $355, with Lund cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Sala
🇸🇪 Lund
🕒 Local time
01:54 1:54 AM
01:54 1:54 AM
Same time as Sala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
22,994
82,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sala Lund 520 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sala
  • Lund

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sala vs Lund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sala or Lund?
Sala wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Lund. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Sala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sala or in Lund?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Sala. 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 Sala compared to Lund?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Sala versus $903 in Lund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Sala and in Lund?
Childcare runs $221 in Sala versus $158 in Lund. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Sala and in Lund?
Dining out is cheaper in Sala – a meal for two runs $60 versus $91 in Lund. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sala or in Lund?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Sala is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Sala or Lund?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Sala compared to Lund?
Safety-wise, Sala and Lund are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Should I move to Sala or to Lund?
It comes down to priorities – Sala wins on affordability, Lund on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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