🙂A single person spends $2,732 per month in Stockholm vs $3,165 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $4,130 per month in Stockholm vs $4,495 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $5,527 per month in Stockholm vs $5,825 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.
🙂Stockholm is about 14% cheaper than Issaquah, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Stockholm and Issaquah, WA sit above the global median – Stockholm by 99%, Issaquah, WA by 130%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42SEK 177
$24.67$24.67
-25.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103SEK 984
$79.0$79.0
29.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43SEK 110
$11.55$11.55
-1.04%
Cappuccino
$5.35SEK 51.3
$4.97$4.97
7.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89SEK 37.28
$3.18$3.18
22.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20SEK 30.72
$2.04$2.04
56.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.46SEK 81.1
$6.97$6.97
21.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.19SEK 88.1
$7.67$7.67
19.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74SEK 16.73
$1.45$1.45
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$4.17SEK 39.97
$4.79$4.79
-12.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.09SEK 39.22
$5.84$5.84
-29.97%
Eggs
$5.19SEK 49.75
$5.56$5.56
-6.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.23SEK 127
$15.94$15.94
-17.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.55SEK 130
$15.61$15.61
-13.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.30SEK 214
$17.77$17.77
25.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55SEK 34.04
$5.84$5.84
-39.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97SEK 28.51
$2.18$2.18
36.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.44
$4.12$4.12
-23.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.70SEK 45.04
$4.65$4.65
1.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87SEK 17.90
$2.23$2.23
-16.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80SEK 17.30
$2.49$2.49
-27.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49SEK 23.85
$2.05$2.05
21.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49SEK 23.85
$3.07$3.07
-18.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10SEK 87.3
$11.88$11.88
-23.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.67SEK 122
$20.12$20.12
-37.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 20.57
$1.70$1.70
25.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 24.54
$4.83$4.83
-47.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.61SEK 44.25
$2.69$2.69
71.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$113SEK 1,081
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.20SEK 59.5
$2.62$2.62
136.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53SEK 14.68
$1.69$1.69
-9.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.2SEK 568
$30.55$30.55
93.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82SEK 17.48
$1.32$1.32
37.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KSEK 330.7K
$37.1K$37.1K
-6.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KSEK 336.9K
$25.3K$25.3K
38.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$281SEK 2,697
$230$230
22.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.69SEK 218
$63.5$63.5
-64.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.70SEK 390
$82.5$82.5
-50.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06SEK 461
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.41SEK 397
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.78SEK 190
$16.83$16.83
17.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172SEK 1,651
$2,089$2,089
-91.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8KSEK 161.6K
$32.6K$32.6K
-48.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120SEK 1,152
$60.6$60.6
98.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.8SEK 554
$43.76$43.76
32.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142SEK 1,359
$83.1$83.1
70.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203SEK 1,944
$130$130
56.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,787SEK 17.1K
$2,059$2,059
-13.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,096SEK 10.5K
$1,705$1,705
-35.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,323SEK 31.9K
$3,242$3,242
2.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,859SEK 17.8K
$2,750$2,750
-32.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.7KSEK 112.5K
$4,221$4,221
177.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,611SEK 63.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,662SEK 35.1K
$6,507$6,507
-43.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
6.1
-45.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: August 29, 2026
Last update for Issaquah, WA: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,787 in Stockholm versus $2,059 in Issaquah, WA. 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 78% higher in Issaquah, WA, 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 $103 in Stockholm versus $79.0 in Issaquah, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $433 in Stockholm vs $484 in Issaquah, WA – so Stockholm wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Issaquah, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Issaquah, WA cheaper than Stockholm?
Yes – Issaquah, WA is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,098 per month in Stockholm and $4,748 in Issaquah, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stockholm, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Stockholm and in Issaquah, WA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,732 in Stockholm and $3,165 in Issaquah, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $172 per month in Stockholm and $2,089 in Issaquah, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 enough to cover costs in Stockholm or in Issaquah, WA?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,732 in Stockholm and $3,165 in Issaquah, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Stockholm or Issaquah, WA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stockholm – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Stockholm or Issaquah, WA?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Stockholm. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Issaquah, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.