Cost of Living Comparison Between Sala and Stockholm Cost of Living Comparison Between Sala and Stockholm

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,500 per month in Sala vs $2,508 in Stockholm, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,227 per month in Sala vs $3,818 in Stockholm, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,954 per month in Sala vs $5,128 in Stockholm, rent included.

Sala is about 40% cheaper than Stockholm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sala and Stockholm sit above the global median – Sala by 13%, Stockholm by 88%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.56 SEK 118

$15.95 SEK 149

-21.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.2 SEK 600

$112 SEK 1,044

-42.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 SEK 97.6

$11.49 SEK 108

-9.23%

Cappuccino

$3.25 SEK 30.42

$5.09 SEK 47.65

-36.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SEK 17.03

$3.27 SEK 30.57

-44.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 SEK 23.55

$2.55 SEK 23.84

-1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.47 SEK 69.9

$8.61 SEK 80.6

-13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.58 SEK 70.9

$8.18 SEK 76.5

-7.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 SEK 16.58

$1.74 SEK 16.28

1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 SEK 25.01

$3.42 SEK 32.02

-21.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 SEK 34.93

$3.87 SEK 36.18

-3.62%

Eggs

$4.03 SEK 37.70

$4.71 SEK 44.05

-14.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.89 SEK 111

$12.91 SEK 121

-7.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.89 SEK 111

$13.21 SEK 124

-9.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 SEK 149

$19.25 SEK 180

-17.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 SEK 28.64

$3.52 SEK 32.90

-13.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.58 SEK 24.11

$2.84 SEK 26.56

-9.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 SEK 25.46

$3.41 SEK 31.87

-20.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.30 SEK 49.56

$4.46 SEK 41.70

18.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 SEK 14.06

$1.93 SEK 18.05

-22.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 SEK 11.07

$1.88 SEK 17.60

-37.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 SEK 25.74

$2.63 SEK 24.57

4.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SEK 9.53

$1.55 SEK 14.51

-34.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.57 SEK 70.9

$8.00 SEK 74.8

-5.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.31 SEK 59.1

$12.74 SEK 119

-50.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 SEK 24.17

$2.25 SEK 21.07

14.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 SEK 17.88

$2.32 SEK 21.73

-17.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.13 SEK 29.23

$4.64 SEK 43.41

-32.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.99 SEK 206

$111 SEK 1,042

-80.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 SEK 58.1

$6.10 SEK 57.0

1.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 SEK 15.35

$1.67 SEK 15.60

-1.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.15 SEK 198

$62.6 SEK 586

-66.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 SEK 17.96

$1.87 SEK 17.50

2.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$42.2K SEK 394.8K

$33.0K SEK 308.6K

27.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.5K SEK 322.3K

$34.8K SEK 325.2K

-0.91%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$90.6 SEK 848

$230 SEK 2,150

-60.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.68 SEK 193

$29.14 SEK 273

-29.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.22 SEK 339

$41.95 SEK 392

-13.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.47 SEK 453

$47.57 SEK 445

1.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.08 SEK 197

$37.44 SEK 350

-43.70%

Cinema Ticket

$18.63 SEK 174

$17.95 SEK 168

3.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$149 SEK 1,397

$162 SEK 1,516

-7.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,259 SEK 11.8K

$6,490 SEK 60.7K

-80.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.04 SEK 431

$98.4 SEK 920

-53.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.25 SEK 339

$48.58 SEK 454

-25.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.8 SEK 513

$120 SEK 1,119

-54.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 SEK 543

$205 SEK 1,914

-71.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 SEK 7,068

$1,595 SEK 14.9K

-52.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 SEK 4,954

$1,119 SEK 10.5K

-52.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 SEK 9,010

$2,739 SEK 25.6K

-64.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 SEK 6,740

$1,812 SEK 17.0K

-60.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,957 SEK 37.0K

$12.1K SEK 112.8K

-67.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,730 SEK 25.5K

$6,780 SEK 63.4K

-59.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,533 SEK 23.7K

$3,706 SEK 34.7K

-31.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.53

4.16

8.89%

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

Last update for Sala: June 16, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Sala versus $1,595 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 46% higher in Stockholm, 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 $64.0 in Sala versus $112 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $399 – making Sala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stockholm costs about 67% more than Sala, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,250 per month in Sala and $3,762 in Stockholm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $149 per month in Sala and $162 in Stockholm. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Stockholm, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sala, where all-in costs run around $1,500, than in Stockholm at $2,508. In Sala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockholm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sala costs $1,500 versus $2,508 in Stockholm. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Sala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stockholm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.