😐A single person spends $2,501 per month in Stockholm vs $1,737 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,835 per month in Stockholm vs $2,628 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,169 per month in Stockholm vs $3,519 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐Stockholm costs about 44% more than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stockholm and Karlskrona sit above the global median – Stockholm by 86%, Karlskrona by 29%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.55SEK 146
$13.30SEK 125
16.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$113SEK 1,056
$68.1SEK 639
65.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.73SEK 110
$9.36SEK 87.8
25.32%
Cappuccino
$5.07SEK 47.56
$3.91SEK 36.65
29.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18SEK 29.78
$1.45SEK 13.63
119.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52SEK 23.62
$2.42SEK 22.67
4.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.59SEK 80.6
$7.43SEK 69.7
15.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.32SEK 78.1
$5.32SEK 49.90
56.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 16.88
$1.59SEK 14.88
13.21%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44SEK 32.23
$2.92SEK 27.41
17.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.99SEK 37.45
$3.82SEK 35.80
4.45%
Eggs
$4.69SEK 43.96
$3.89SEK 36.49
20.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.65SEK 119
$11.35SEK 106
11.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.20SEK 124
$11.92SEK 112
10.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.66SEK 184
$16.01SEK 150
22.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62SEK 33.94
$3.12SEK 29.24
16.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87SEK 26.95
$2.48SEK 23.28
15.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53SEK 33.08
$3.06SEK 28.72
15.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.47SEK 41.94
$4.45SEK 41.71
0.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99SEK 18.67
$1.57SEK 14.70
26.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81SEK 16.96
$1.62SEK 15.16
11.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50SEK 23.49
$2.24SEK 21.03
11.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.51
$1.46SEK 13.68
6.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94SEK 74.5
$7.25SEK 68.0
9.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.76SEK 120
$13.48SEK 126
-5.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 20.04
$2.05SEK 19.27
4.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 22.09
$1.80SEK 16.89
30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.52SEK 42.36
$2.87SEK 26.90
57.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$113SEK 1,063
$63.7SEK 598
77.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.35SEK 59.6
$14.54SEK 136
-56.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEK 15.39
$1.65SEK 15.44
-0.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.5SEK 587
$21.00SEK 197
197.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82SEK 17.07
$1.85SEK 17.34
-1.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KSEK 301.3K
$32.1KSEK 301.2K
0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 326.4K
$34.7KSEK 325.3K
0.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225SEK 2,108
$54.2SEK 508
314.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.52SEK 268
$28.43SEK 267
0.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.74SEK 392
$36.28SEK 340
15.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.32SEK 444
$43.33SEK 406
9.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.97SEK 356
$24.09SEK 226
57.62%
Cinema Ticket
$17.82SEK 167
$17.15SEK 161
3.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164SEK 1,542
$146SEK 1,367
12.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,429SEK 60.3K
$745SEK 6,988
763.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9SEK 899
$107SEK 1,000
-10.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.26SEK 462
$20.85SEK 196
136.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116SEK 1,092
$84.3SEK 791
38.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204SEK 1,910
$158SEK 1,481
28.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,591SEK 14.9K
$699SEK 6,555
127.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115SEK 10.5K
$704SEK 6,608
58.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,737SEK 25.7K
$1,162SEK 10.9K
135.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,793SEK 16.8K
$990SEK 9,287
81.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.9KSEK 111.6K
$3,023SEK 28.4K
293.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,717SEK 63.0K
$2,671SEK 25.1K
151.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,731SEK 35.0K
$2,664SEK 25.0K
40.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
4.7
-11.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: June 7, 2026
Last update for Karlskrona: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,591 in Stockholm versus $699 in Karlskrona. 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 40% higher in Stockholm, 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 $113 in Stockholm versus $68.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $358 – making Karlskrona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Karlskrona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karlskrona cheaper than Stockholm?
Yes – Stockholm is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,752 per month in Stockholm and $2,606 in Karlskrona. 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 Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Stockholm or Karlskrona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $113 in Stockholm and $68.0 in Karlskrona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Stockholm vs Karlskrona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,501 in Stockholm and $1,737 in Karlskrona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Stockholm or Karlskrona?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,737, than in Stockholm at $2,501. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockholm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stockholm or Karlskrona more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – 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 Karlskrona?
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 Karlskrona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stockholm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.