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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,478 per month in Sala vs $2,557 in Stockholm, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,218 per month in Sala vs $3,865 in Stockholm, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,957 per month in Sala vs $5,174 in Stockholm, rent included.

Sala is about 42% cheaper than Stockholm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sala and Stockholm sit above the global median – Sala by 11%, Stockholm by 92%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.53 SEK 119

$16.09 SEK 153

-22.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 SEK 605

$110 SEK 1,049

-42.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 SEK 96.9

$11.69 SEK 111

-12.75%

Cappuccino

$3.19 SEK 30.28

$5.04 SEK 47.86

-36.71%

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

$1.86 SEK 17.70

$3.15 SEK 29.94

-40.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 SEK 22.67

$2.56 SEK 24.30

-6.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.42 SEK 70.5

$8.38 SEK 79.6

-11.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.24 SEK 68.8

$8.63 SEK 82.0

-16.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 SEK 16.87

$1.79 SEK 17.03

-0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 SEK 25.53

$3.41 SEK 32.37

-21.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.63 SEK 34.44

$3.95 SEK 37.56

-8.10%

Eggs

$3.86 SEK 36.68

$4.68 SEK 44.49

-17.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.12 SEK 115

$12.95 SEK 123

-6.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.89 SEK 113

$13.00 SEK 123

-8.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.97 SEK 152

$19.07 SEK 181

-16.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 SEK 29.85

$3.47 SEK 32.94

-9.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.57 SEK 24.45

$2.89 SEK 27.46

-11.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 SEK 27.01

$3.42 SEK 32.48

-16.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.13 SEK 48.74

$4.63 SEK 43.94

10.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 SEK 14.78

$1.91 SEK 18.12

-18.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 SEK 11.17

$1.86 SEK 17.63

-36.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.71 SEK 25.77

$2.63 SEK 24.98

3.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 SEK 9.71

$1.61 SEK 15.34

-36.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.20 SEK 68.4

$8.07 SEK 76.7

-10.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.24 SEK 59.3

$12.35 SEK 117

-49.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 SEK 23.73

$2.23 SEK 21.16

12.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SEK 18.28

$2.38 SEK 22.58

-19.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.25 SEK 30.83

$4.50 SEK 42.75

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.30 SEK 212

$114 SEK 1,080

-80.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 SEK 58.5

$6.24 SEK 59.3

-1.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 SEK 15.05

$1.59 SEK 15.13

-0.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.29 SEK 202

$61.5 SEK 584

-65.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.97 SEK 18.69

$1.88 SEK 17.84

4.79%

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

$41.4K SEK 393.5K

$32.0K SEK 304.1K

29.40%

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

$34.5K SEK 328.1K

$34.8K SEK 330.4K

-0.70%

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

$89.6 SEK 852

$227 SEK 2,152

-60.44%

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

$21.17 SEK 201

$28.66 SEK 272

-26.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.99 SEK 351

$42.65 SEK 405

-13.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.67 SEK 462

$46.85 SEK 445

3.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.31 SEK 202

$37.07 SEK 352

-42.51%

Cinema Ticket

$18.75 SEK 178

$18.04 SEK 171

3.94%

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

$148 SEK 1,404

$163 SEK 1,553

-9.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,284 SEK 12.2K

$6,574 SEK 62.5K

-80.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.96 SEK 437

$96.0 SEK 912

-52.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.96 SEK 351

$49.89 SEK 474

-25.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.4 SEK 517

$120 SEK 1,142

-54.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 SEK 554

$201 SEK 1,906

-70.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 SEK 7,261

$1,598 SEK 15.2K

-52.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 SEK 5,044

$1,094 SEK 10.4K

-51.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SEK 9,354

$2,742 SEK 26.1K

-64.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$737 SEK 7,002

$1,791 SEK 17.0K

-58.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,100 SEK 38.9K

$11.6K SEK 110.3K

-64.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,033 SEK 28.8K

$6,671 SEK 63.4K

-54.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,507 SEK 23.8K

$3,505 SEK 33.3K

-28.46%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Sala versus $1,598 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 40% 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 $110 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 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 73% 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 $2,217 per month in Sala and $3,835 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 $148 per month in Sala and $163 in Stockholm. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $1,478, than in Stockholm at $2,557. 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 $1,478 versus $2,557 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.