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