😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,631 in Stockholm versus $1,774 in Eskilstuna.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,058 in Stockholm versus $2,755 in Eskilstuna.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,486 in Stockholm versus $3,736 in Eskilstuna.
🌍Living in Stockholm is roughly 48% more expensive than in Eskilstuna, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stockholm92% above, Eskilstuna30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.81SEK 185
$14.12SEK 139
33.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104SEK 1,027
$66.6SEK 656
56.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.18SEK 120
$10.25SEK 101
18.83%
Cappuccino
$5.23SEK 51.5
$4.48SEK 44.14
16.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69SEK 36.36
$2.77SEK 27.31
33.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02SEK 29.80
$2.21SEK 21.74
36.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.33SEK 82.1
$5.19SEK 51.2
60.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.34SEK 92.0
$5.31SEK 52.3
75.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SEK 16.72
$1.45SEK 14.31
17.24%
White Bread(500g)
$4.15SEK 40.91
$3.28SEK 32.29
26.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.91SEK 38.50
$3.59SEK 35.37
8.91%
Eggs
$5.29SEK 52.2
$4.26SEK 42.02
24.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.99SEK 128
$14.08SEK 139
-7.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.43SEK 132
$13.21SEK 130
1.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.60SEK 223
$13.39SEK 132
68.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64SEK 35.89
$3.37SEK 33.18
8.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84SEK 27.94
$2.66SEK 26.21
6.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29SEK 32.41
$2.63SEK 25.94
25.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.50SEK 44.32
$3.83SEK 37.75
17.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74SEK 17.13
$1.49SEK 14.66
16.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77SEK 17.46
$1.84SEK 18.10
-3.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.46SEK 24.27
$3.36SEK 33.13
-26.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 23.17
$1.72SEK 16.93
36.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.87SEK 87.4
$7.29SEK 71.9
21.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.24SEK 121
$8.13SEK 80.1
50.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09SEK 20.61
$2.06SEK 20.31
1.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58SEK 25.47
$2.32SEK 22.87
11.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.34SEK 42.77
$3.31SEK 32.59
31.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$107SEK 1,058
$67.7SEK 667
58.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.96SEK 58.7
$13.42SEK 132
-55.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55SEK 15.25
$2.13SEK 21.02
-27.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.2SEK 563
$82.0SEK 808
-30.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79SEK 17.64
$1.76SEK 17.38
1.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KSEK 339.1K
$33.8KSEK 333.1K
1.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KSEK 347.8K
$33.9KSEK 333.8K
4.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$264SEK 2,602
$181SEK 1,782
46.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.83SEK 215
$26.97SEK 266
-19.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49SEK 409
$40.60SEK 400
2.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.66SEK 470
$25.19SEK 248
89.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.48SEK 389
$26.27SEK 259
50.29%
Cinema Ticket
$19.15SEK 189
$11.27SEK 111
69.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166SEK 1,637
$158SEK 1,558
5.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0KSEK 167.9K
$5,155SEK 50.8K
230.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114SEK 1,126
$104SEK 1,025
9.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.4SEK 595
$30.82SEK 304
95.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138SEK 1,363
$92.3SEK 909
49.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189SEK 1,864
$156SEK 1,533
21.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,771SEK 17.4K
$826SEK 8,136
114.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,072SEK 10.6K
$619SEK 6,096
73.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,181SEK 31.3K
$1,199SEK 11.8K
165.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,881SEK 18.5K
$1,077SEK 10.6K
74.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.8KSEK 116.3K
$4,262SEK 42.0K
176.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,814SEK 67.2K
$2,895SEK 28.5K
135.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,595SEK 35.4K
$4,305SEK 42.4K
-16.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.37
3.2
5.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: September 13, 2026
Last update for Eskilstuna: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,771 in Stockholm and $826 in Eskilstuna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $104 in Stockholm vs $67.0 in Eskilstuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $427 vs $363 per month, with Eskilstuna 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 Eskilstuna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stockholm or Eskilstuna?
Eskilstuna wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Stockholm. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Eskilstuna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Stockholm or in Eskilstuna?
On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Eskilstuna. 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 Stockholm compared to Eskilstuna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,771 in Stockholm versus $826 in Eskilstuna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Stockholm compared to Eskilstuna?
All in, you'll spend $2,631 per month in Stockholm versus $1,774 in Eskilstuna – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Stockholm compared to Eskilstuna?
A monthly transit pass in Eskilstuna runs roughly 59% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Stockholm or in Eskilstuna?
At $1,774 in Eskilstuna versus $2,631 in Stockholm, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Eskilstuna but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. The gap between the two cities makes Eskilstuna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stockholm or Eskilstuna?
Both work as nomad bases, but Eskilstuna delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,774 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Eskilstuna hard to pass up.
How safe is Stockholm compared to Eskilstuna?
Safety-wise, Stockholm and Eskilstuna 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Eskilstuna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.