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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Stockholm vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities