Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Karlskrona Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Karlskrona

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$15.55 SEK 146
$13.30 SEK 125
16.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$113 SEK 1,056
$68.1 SEK 639
65.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.73 SEK 110
$9.36 SEK 87.8
25.32%
Cappuccino
$5.07 SEK 47.56
$3.91 SEK 36.65
29.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 SEK 29.78
$1.45 SEK 13.63
119.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 SEK 23.62
$2.42 SEK 22.67
4.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.59 SEK 80.6
$7.43 SEK 69.7
15.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.32 SEK 78.1
$5.32 SEK 49.90
56.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 16.88
$1.59 SEK 14.88
13.21%
White Bread (500g)
$3.44 SEK 32.23
$2.92 SEK 27.41
17.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.99 SEK 37.45
$3.82 SEK 35.80
4.45%
Eggs
$4.69 SEK 43.96
$3.89 SEK 36.49
20.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.65 SEK 119
$11.35 SEK 106
11.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.20 SEK 124
$11.92 SEK 112
10.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.66 SEK 184
$16.01 SEK 150
22.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 SEK 33.94
$3.12 SEK 29.24
16.03%
Banana (1kg)
$2.87 SEK 26.95
$2.48 SEK 23.28
15.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.53 SEK 33.08
$3.06 SEK 28.72
15.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 SEK 41.94
$4.45 SEK 41.71
0.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 SEK 18.67
$1.57 SEK 14.70
26.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 SEK 16.96
$1.62 SEK 15.16
11.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 SEK 23.49
$2.24 SEK 21.03
11.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 SEK 14.51
$1.46 SEK 13.68
6.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94 SEK 74.5
$7.25 SEK 68.0
9.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.76 SEK 120
$13.48 SEK 126
-5.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 SEK 20.04
$2.05 SEK 19.27
4.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 SEK 22.09
$1.80 SEK 16.89
30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.52 SEK 42.36
$2.87 SEK 26.90
57.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$113 SEK 1,063
$63.7 SEK 598
77.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.35 SEK 59.6
$14.54 SEK 136
-56.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 SEK 15.39
$1.65 SEK 15.44
-0.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.5 SEK 587
$21.00 SEK 197
197.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 SEK 17.07
$1.85 SEK 17.34
-1.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K SEK 301.3K
$32.1K SEK 301.2K
0.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K SEK 326.4K
$34.7K SEK 325.3K
0.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$225 SEK 2,108
$54.2 SEK 508
314.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.52 SEK 268
$28.43 SEK 267
0.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.74 SEK 392
$36.28 SEK 340
15.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.32 SEK 444
$43.33 SEK 406
9.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.97 SEK 356
$24.09 SEK 226
57.62%
Cinema Ticket
$17.82 SEK 167
$17.15 SEK 161
3.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 SEK 1,542
$146 SEK 1,367
12.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,429 SEK 60.3K
$745 SEK 6,988
763.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9 SEK 899
$107 SEK 1,000
-10.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.26 SEK 462
$20.85 SEK 196
136.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 SEK 1,092
$84.3 SEK 791
38.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204 SEK 1,910
$158 SEK 1,481
28.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,591 SEK 14.9K
$699 SEK 6,555
127.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 SEK 10.5K
$704 SEK 6,608
58.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,737 SEK 25.7K
$1,162 SEK 10.9K
135.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,793 SEK 16.8K
$990 SEK 9,287
81.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.9K SEK 111.6K
$3,023 SEK 28.4K
293.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,717 SEK 63.0K
$2,671 SEK 25.1K
151.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,731 SEK 35.0K
$2,664 SEK 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.

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