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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,557 per month in Stockholm vs $1,731 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,865 per month in Stockholm vs $2,646 in Karlskrona, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,174 per month in Stockholm vs $3,561 in Karlskrona, rent included.

Stockholm costs about 48% more than Karlskrona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Stockholm and Karlskrona sit above the global median – Stockholm by 92%, Karlskrona by 30%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09 SEK 153
$13.22 SEK 126
21.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 SEK 1,049
$67.7 SEK 643
63.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.69 SEK 111
$9.56 SEK 90.8
22.28%
Cappuccino
$5.04 SEK 47.86
$3.96 SEK 37.59
27.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 SEK 29.94
$1.39 SEK 13.17
126.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 SEK 24.30
$2.50 SEK 23.76
2.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.38 SEK 79.6
$7.20 SEK 68.4
16.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.63 SEK 82.0
$5.22 SEK 49.61
65.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 SEK 17.03
$1.60 SEK 15.18
11.87%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 SEK 32.37
$2.90 SEK 27.54
17.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.95 SEK 37.56
$3.98 SEK 37.83
-0.75%
Eggs
$4.68 SEK 44.49
$4.08 SEK 38.74
14.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.95 SEK 123
$11.20 SEK 106
15.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.00 SEK 123
$11.61 SEK 110
11.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.07 SEK 181
$16.01 SEK 152
19.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 SEK 32.94
$3.08 SEK 29.28
12.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.89 SEK 27.46
$2.56 SEK 24.28
12.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.42 SEK 32.48
$3.09 SEK 29.39
10.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.63 SEK 43.94
$4.70 SEK 44.66
-1.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 SEK 18.12
$1.50 SEK 14.24
27.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 SEK 17.63
$1.54 SEK 14.60
20.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 SEK 24.98
$2.24 SEK 21.29
17.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 15.34
$1.46 SEK 13.84
10.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.07 SEK 76.7
$7.59 SEK 72.1
6.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.35 SEK 117
$13.09 SEK 124
-5.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 SEK 21.16
$2.04 SEK 19.38
9.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 SEK 22.58
$1.73 SEK 16.40
37.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.50 SEK 42.75
$2.87 SEK 27.22
56.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$114 SEK 1,080
$64.7 SEK 615
75.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 SEK 59.3
$14.71 SEK 140
-57.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 SEK 15.13
$1.58 SEK 15.01
0.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.5 SEK 584
$20.76 SEK 197
196.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 SEK 17.84
$1.92 SEK 18.26
-2.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEK 304.1K
$32.4K SEK 307.5K
-1.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K SEK 330.4K
$34.0K SEK 322.9K
2.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 SEK 2,152
$53.7 SEK 511
321.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.66 SEK 272
$28.91 SEK 275
-0.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.65 SEK 405
$35.92 SEK 341
18.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.85 SEK 445
$43.93 SEK 417
6.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.07 SEK 352
$23.99 SEK 228
54.52%
Cinema Ticket
$18.04 SEK 171
$16.62 SEK 158
8.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 SEK 1,553
$144 SEK 1,368
13.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,574 SEK 62.5K
$753 SEK 7,150
773.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0 SEK 912
$104 SEK 988
-7.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.89 SEK 474
$20.81 SEK 198
139.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 SEK 1,142
$82.8 SEK 787
45.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$201 SEK 1,906
$155 SEK 1,469
29.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 SEK 15.2K
$694 SEK 6,596
130.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,094 SEK 10.4K
$697 SEK 6,626
56.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,742 SEK 26.1K
$1,182 SEK 11.2K
131.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,791 SEK 17.0K
$1,012 SEK 9,616
76.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.6K SEK 110.3K
$2,978 SEK 28.3K
289.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,671 SEK 63.4K
$2,617 SEK 24.9K
154.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Karlskrona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,505 SEK 33.3K
$2,547 SEK 24.2K
37.58%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Karlskrona: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,598 in Stockholm versus $694 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 38% 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 $110 in Stockholm versus $68.0 in Karlskrona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $357 – 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 48%, 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 $3,835 per month in Stockholm and $2,596 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 in Karlskrona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 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 and in Karlskrona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,557 in Stockholm and $1,731 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 living in Stockholm or in Karlskrona?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,731, than in Stockholm at $2,557. 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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