😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,547 in Stockholm versus $1,699 in Eskilstuna.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,842 in Stockholm versus $2,696 in Eskilstuna.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,138 in Stockholm versus $3,693 in Eskilstuna.
😐Living in Stockholm is roughly 50% more expensive than Eskilstuna, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stockholm90% above, Eskilstuna27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13SEK 150
$13.00SEK 121
24.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112SEK 1,038
$67.4SEK 627
65.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.68SEK 109
$10.51SEK 97.8
11.13%
Cappuccino
$4.99SEK 46.39
$4.61SEK 42.90
8.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19SEK 29.70
$2.80SEK 26.07
13.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49SEK 23.16
$2.46SEK 22.89
1.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.28SEK 77.0
$7.47SEK 69.5
10.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.32SEK 77.3
$7.56SEK 70.3
10.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77SEK 16.47
$1.44SEK 13.39
22.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40SEK 31.66
$3.12SEK 29.06
8.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89SEK 36.17
$3.52SEK 32.72
10.51%
Eggs
$4.58SEK 42.64
$4.06SEK 37.78
12.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.88SEK 120
$14.19SEK 132
-9.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.17SEK 123
$11.94SEK 111
10.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.36SEK 180
$13.42SEK 125
44.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57SEK 33.16
$3.42SEK 31.81
4.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83SEK 26.36
$2.71SEK 25.20
4.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45SEK 32.07
$2.66SEK 24.78
29.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.63SEK 43.05
$3.77SEK 35.07
22.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97SEK 18.34
$1.57SEK 14.57
25.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88SEK 17.46
$2.09SEK 19.44
-10.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55SEK 23.67
$2.70SEK 25.08
-5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SEK 15.08
$1.70SEK 15.78
-4.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.05SEK 74.9
$7.44SEK 69.2
8.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.04SEK 131
$8.69SEK 80.8
61.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 19.95
$2.35SEK 21.81
-8.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.05
$1.95SEK 18.10
15.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67SEK 43.46
$3.41SEK 31.68
36.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114SEK 1,058
$69.7SEK 648
63.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.32SEK 58.8
$6.59SEK 61.3
-4.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58SEK 14.74
$1.23SEK 11.43
28.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.9SEK 576
$61.2SEK 570
1.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79SEK 16.67
$1.95SEK 18.09
-8.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 306.7K
$32.8KSEK 304.9K
0.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KSEK 322.5K
$34.3KSEK 318.8K
1.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230SEK 2,141
$88.1SEK 819
161.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.63SEK 266
$28.89SEK 269
-0.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.89SEK 399
$36.46SEK 339
17.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.61SEK 433
$25.39SEK 236
83.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.08SEK 345
$24.86SEK 231
49.16%
Cinema Ticket
$17.90SEK 166
$11.68SEK 109
53.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,496
$126SEK 1,170
27.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,546SEK 60.9K
$738SEK 6,865
786.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.8SEK 891
$106SEK 984
-9.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.32SEK 449
$31.44SEK 292
53.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116SEK 1,083
$94.6SEK 880
23.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$208SEK 1,937
$156SEK 1,454
33.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576SEK 14.7K
$736SEK 6,848
114.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,114SEK 10.4K
$623SEK 5,796
78.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,811SEK 26.1K
$1,234SEK 11.5K
127.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,774SEK 16.5K
$1,037SEK 9,648
70.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.2KSEK 113.6K
$3,293SEK 30.6K
270.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513SEK 60.6K
$2,713SEK 25.2K
140.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Eskilstuna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,839SEK 35.7K
$4,387SEK 40.8K
-12.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
4.53
-8.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: April 28, 2026
Last update for Eskilstuna: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Stockholm and $736 in Eskilstuna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $112 in Stockholm vs $67.0 in Eskilstuna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $354 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 50% 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 Eskilstuna?
On paper, Eskilstuna earns 14% less. 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 vs Eskilstuna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,576 in Stockholm versus $736 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 $2,547 per month in Stockholm versus $1,699 in Eskilstuna – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Stockholm vs Eskilstuna?
A monthly transit pass in Eskilstuna runs roughly 63% 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 Eskilstuna?
At $1,699 in Eskilstuna versus $2,547 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 $1,699 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 50% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.