Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Issaquah, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Issaquah, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,582 per month in Stockholm vs $2,950 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,840 per month in Stockholm vs $4,371 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,098 per month in Stockholm vs $5,793 in Issaquah, WA, rent included.

Stockholm is about 12% cheaper than Issaquah, WA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Stockholm and Issaquah, WA sit above the global median – Stockholm by 93%, Issaquah, WA by 121%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09 SEK 156
$25.10 $25.10
-35.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 SEK 1,067
$96.0 $96.0
14.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 SEK 113
$11.79 $11.79
-0.93%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SEK 50.3
$5.77 $5.77
-9.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 SEK 31.79
$3.32 $3.32
-1.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 SEK 23.89
$2.47 $2.47
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.51 SEK 82.4
$6.92 $6.92
22.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.31 SEK 80.5
$7.48 $7.48
11.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 17.41
$1.41 $1.41
27.66%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 SEK 32.99
$4.97 $4.97
-31.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.07 SEK 39.38
$5.33 $5.33
-23.64%
Eggs
$4.70 SEK 45.54
$4.39 $4.39
7.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.77 SEK 124
$17.24 $17.24
-25.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.23 SEK 128
$11.12 $11.12
18.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.40 SEK 188
$17.71 $17.71
9.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 SEK 34.83
$6.67 $6.67
-46.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 28.06
$2.21 $2.21
31.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 SEK 32.69
$4.28 $4.28
-21.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 SEK 44.42
$6.23 $6.23
-26.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 SEK 19.01
$3.01 $3.01
-34.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 SEK 18.25
$2.64 $2.64
-28.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 SEK 24.35
$2.79 $2.79
-9.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 15.63
$2.93 $2.93
-45.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.06 SEK 78.0
$11.31 $11.31
-28.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 SEK 121
$15.30 $15.30
-18.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 SEK 21.18
$1.96 $1.96
11.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 SEK 22.87
$4.68 $4.68
-49.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.55 SEK 44.09
$2.03 $2.03
124.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 SEK 1,085
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.40 SEK 61.9
$2.68 $2.68
138.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 16.03
$1.63 $1.63
1.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.3 SEK 613
$29.94 $29.94
111.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 SEK 18.00
$1.19 $1.19
56.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 319.8K
$33.3K $33.3K
-0.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K SEK 334.4K
$26.2K $26.2K
31.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 SEK 2,200
$201 $201
12.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.59 SEK 287
$61.0 $61.0
-51.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.03 SEK 407
$74.6 $74.6
-43.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 SEK 445
$42.22 $42.22
8.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.09 SEK 369
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.78 SEK 172
$15.84 $15.84
12.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 SEK 1,590
$1,434 $1,434
-88.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,573 SEK 63.6K
$29.9K $29.9K
-78.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.6 SEK 945
$52.1 $52.1
87.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.76 SEK 482
$53.7 $53.7
-7.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 SEK 1,165
$88.4 $88.4
36.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 SEK 1,954
$96.2 $96.2
109.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,566 SEK 15.2K
$2,175 $2,175
-28.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 SEK 10.5K
$1,522 $1,522
-28.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 SEK 26.7K
$3,043 $3,043
-9.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,801 SEK 17.4K
$2,529 $2,529
-28.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.8K SEK 113.9K
$4,194 $4,194
180.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,496 SEK 62.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Issaquah, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,643 SEK 35.3K
$6,341 $6,341
-42.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
6.45
-35.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Stockholm: July 13, 2026

Last update for Issaquah, WA: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,566 in Stockholm versus $2,175 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 74% 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 $110 in Stockholm versus $96.0 in Issaquah, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $401 in Stockholm vs $468 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 14%, 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 $3,873 per month in Stockholm and $4,425 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 $2,582 in Stockholm and $2,950 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 $164 per month in Stockholm and $1,434 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 $2,582 in Stockholm and $2,950 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.

Stockholm vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities