😐A single person spends $2,547 per month in Stockholm vs $1,750 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,842 per month in Stockholm vs $2,668 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,138 per month in Stockholm vs $3,587 in Karlskrona, rent included.
😐Stockholm costs about 46% more than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Stockholm and Karlskrona sit above the global median – Stockholm by 90%, Karlskrona by 31%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13SEK 150
$13.34SEK 124
20.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112SEK 1,038
$68.7SEK 639
62.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.68SEK 109
$9.26SEK 86.2
26.13%
Cappuccino
$4.99SEK 46.39
$3.78SEK 35.16
32.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19SEK 29.70
$1.44SEK 13.39
121.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49SEK 23.16
$2.42SEK 22.47
2.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.28SEK 77.0
$7.27SEK 67.7
13.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.32SEK 77.3
$5.18SEK 48.18
60.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77SEK 16.47
$1.57SEK 14.61
12.74%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40SEK 31.66
$2.82SEK 26.23
20.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89SEK 36.17
$3.93SEK 36.51
-1.02%
Eggs
$4.58SEK 42.64
$4.03SEK 37.45
13.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.88SEK 120
$11.28SEK 105
14.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.17SEK 123
$11.98SEK 111
9.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.36SEK 180
$15.55SEK 145
24.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57SEK 33.16
$3.12SEK 29.01
14.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83SEK 26.36
$2.46SEK 22.91
15.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45SEK 32.07
$3.15SEK 29.29
9.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.63SEK 43.05
$4.54SEK 42.18
1.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97SEK 18.34
$1.52SEK 14.13
29.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88SEK 17.46
$1.62SEK 15.09
16.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55SEK 23.67
$2.25SEK 20.96
13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SEK 15.08
$1.50SEK 13.91
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.05SEK 74.9
$7.50SEK 69.7
7.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.04SEK 131
$12.79SEK 119
9.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 19.95
$2.13SEK 19.77
0.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26SEK 21.05
$1.81SEK 16.81
24.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.67SEK 43.46
$2.99SEK 27.84
56.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$114SEK 1,058
$64.5SEK 600
76.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.32SEK 58.8
$14.66SEK 136
-56.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58SEK 14.74
$1.64SEK 15.24
-3.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.9SEK 576
$20.97SEK 195
195.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79SEK 16.67
$1.85SEK 17.16
-3.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 306.7K
$32.5KSEK 302.6K
1.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KSEK 322.5K
$34.4KSEK 319.9K
0.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$230SEK 2,141
$53.1SEK 494
333.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.63SEK 266
$28.28SEK 263
1.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.89SEK 399
$37.28SEK 347
15.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.61SEK 433
$43.09SEK 401
8.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.08SEK 345
$23.56SEK 219
57.39%
Cinema Ticket
$17.90SEK 166
$16.60SEK 154
7.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,496
$145SEK 1,352
10.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,546SEK 60.9K
$731SEK 6,801
795.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.8SEK 891
$104SEK 965
-7.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.32SEK 449
$21.33SEK 198
126.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116SEK 1,083
$83.4SEK 776
39.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$208SEK 1,937
$155SEK 1,437
34.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576SEK 14.7K
$715SEK 6,649
120.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,114SEK 10.4K
$683SEK 6,353
63.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,811SEK 26.1K
$1,151SEK 10.7K
144.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,774SEK 16.5K
$1,008SEK 9,374
75.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.2KSEK 113.6K
$3,139SEK 29.2K
289.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513SEK 60.6K
$2,673SEK 24.9K
143.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,839SEK 35.7K
$2,646SEK 24.6K
45.10%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Karlskrona: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,576 in Stockholm versus $715 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 45% 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 $112 in Stockholm versus $69.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $356 – 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 46%, 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 $3,820 per month in Stockholm and $2,625 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 $112 in Stockholm and $69.0 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 $2,547 in Stockholm and $1,750 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 $1,750, than in Stockholm at $2,547. 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.