😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,547 in Stockholm versus $2,014 in Boras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,842 in Stockholm versus $2,797 in Boras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,138 in Stockholm versus $3,580 in Boras.
😐Living in Stockholm is roughly 26% more expensive than Boras, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stockholm90% above, Boras50% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13SEK 150
$12.54SEK 117
28.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112SEK 1,038
$71.7SEK 667
55.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.68SEK 109
$10.49SEK 97.5
11.34%
Cappuccino
$4.99SEK 46.39
$4.54SEK 42.21
9.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19SEK 29.70
$2.24SEK 20.82
42.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49SEK 23.16
$2.07SEK 19.25
20.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.28SEK 77.0
$7.77SEK 72.3
6.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.32SEK 77.3
$7.48SEK 69.6
11.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77SEK 16.47
$1.61SEK 15.01
9.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40SEK 31.66
$2.23SEK 20.69
52.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89SEK 36.17
$3.01SEK 28.01
29.24%
Eggs
$4.58SEK 42.64
$4.47SEK 41.60
2.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.88SEK 120
$13.09SEK 122
-1.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.17SEK 123
$11.47SEK 107
14.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.36SEK 180
$17.11SEK 159
13.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57SEK 33.16
$2.70SEK 25.08
32.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83SEK 26.36
$2.91SEK 27.04
-2.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45SEK 32.07
$2.81SEK 26.12
22.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.63SEK 43.05
$3.66SEK 34.00
26.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97SEK 18.34
$1.60SEK 14.84
23.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88SEK 17.46
$1.62SEK 15.11
16.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55SEK 23.67
$1.45SEK 13.47
75.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SEK 15.08
$1.54SEK 14.31
5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.05SEK 74.9
$7.88SEK 73.3
2.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.04SEK 131
$10.13SEK 94.2
38.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 19.95
$1.98SEK 18.39
8.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.05
$1.71SEK 15.86
32.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67SEK 43.46
$3.78SEK 35.12
23.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114SEK 1,058
$85.6SEK 796
32.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.32SEK 58.8
$6.42SEK 59.7
-1.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58SEK 14.74
$1.90SEK 17.67
-16.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.9SEK 576
$64.1SEK 596
-3.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79SEK 16.67
$1.88SEK 17.50
-4.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 306.7K
$26.2KSEK 243.5K
25.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KSEK 322.5K
$24.9KSEK 231.4K
39.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230SEK 2,141
$76.1SEK 708
202.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.63SEK 266
$28.90SEK 269
-0.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.89SEK 399
$27.75SEK 258
54.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.61SEK 433
$33.85SEK 315
37.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.08SEK 345
$23.65SEK 220
56.79%
Cinema Ticket
$17.90SEK 166
$15.60SEK 145
14.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,496
$158SEK 1,469
1.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,546SEK 60.9K
$4,185SEK 38.9K
56.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.8SEK 891
$81.3SEK 756
17.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.32SEK 449
$38.86SEK 361
24.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116SEK 1,083
$94.1SEK 875
23.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$208SEK 1,937
$108SEK 1,000
93.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576SEK 14.7K
$825SEK 7,669
91.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,114SEK 10.4K
$926SEK 8,614
20.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,811SEK 26.1K
$1,402SEK 13.0K
100.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,774SEK 16.5K
$1,097SEK 10.2K
61.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.2KSEK 113.6K
$4,263SEK 39.6K
186.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513SEK 60.6K
$3,016SEK 28.1K
115.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Boras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,839SEK 35.7K
$2,651SEK 24.7K
44.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
4.8
-13.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: April 28, 2026
Last update for Boras: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Stockholm and $825 in Boras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stockholm pays 45% 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: $112 in Stockholm vs $72.0 in Boras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $343 per month, with Boras cheaper across the board.
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
Stockholm vs Boras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boras cheaper than Stockholm?
Boras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Stockholm or Boras?
Stockholm pays 45% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Stockholm and Boras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,576 in Stockholm versus $825 in Boras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stockholm vs Boras?
All in, you'll spend $2,547 per month in Stockholm versus $2,014 in Boras – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Boras runs roughly 33% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Stockholm or Boras?
At $2,014 in Boras versus $2,547 in Stockholm, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Boras but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. The gap between the two cities makes Boras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Stockholm or Boras more family-friendly?
For families, Boras is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stockholm, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Stockholm or Boras?
Safety-wise, Stockholm and Boras 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Boras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.