Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Lund Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Lund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,582 in Stockholm versus $1,904 in Lund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,840 in Stockholm versus $3,030 in Lund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,098 in Stockholm versus $4,156 in Lund.

Living in Stockholm is roughly 36% more expensive than in Lund, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stockholm 93% above, Lund 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09 SEK 155
$12.55 SEK 121
28.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 SEK 1,062
$85.3 SEK 822
29.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 SEK 113
$12.20 SEK 118
-4.26%
Cappuccino
$5.20 SEK 50.1
$4.85 SEK 46.77
7.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 SEK 31.64
$2.81 SEK 27.04
16.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 SEK 23.78
$2.05 SEK 19.73
20.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.51 SEK 82.0
$8.22 SEK 79.3
3.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.31 SEK 80.1
$7.32 SEK 70.6
13.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 17.33
$1.60 SEK 15.38
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.41 SEK 32.84
$2.21 SEK 21.27
54.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.07 SEK 39.19
$3.02 SEK 29.06
34.77%
Eggs
$4.70 SEK 45.33
$4.55 SEK 43.89
3.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.77 SEK 123
$13.12 SEK 126
-2.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.23 SEK 127
$11.78 SEK 113
12.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.40 SEK 187
$17.28 SEK 167
12.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 SEK 34.66
$3.18 SEK 30.61
13.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 SEK 27.93
$2.77 SEK 26.73
4.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.38 SEK 32.54
$2.77 SEK 26.67
22.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.59 SEK 44.21
$4.55 SEK 43.81
0.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 SEK 18.92
$1.66 SEK 15.96
18.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 SEK 18.17
$1.58 SEK 15.20
19.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 SEK 24.24
$2.60 SEK 25.06
-3.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 15.55
$1.27 SEK 12.25
26.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.06 SEK 77.7
$8.18 SEK 78.9
-1.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.53 SEK 121
$11.23 SEK 108
11.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 SEK 21.08
$1.96 SEK 18.92
11.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 SEK 22.76
$2.24 SEK 21.57
5.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.55 SEK 43.89
$3.34 SEK 32.23
36.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 SEK 1,080
$67.4 SEK 649
66.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.40 SEK 61.7
$5.40 SEK 52.1
18.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 15.95
$1.88 SEK 18.16
-11.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.3 SEK 610
$63.0 SEK 607
0.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 SEK 17.92
$1.90 SEK 18.34
-2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 318.3K
$32.7K SEK 315.0K
1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K SEK 332.9K
$34.1K SEK 328.9K
1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 SEK 2,189
$122 SEK 1,175
86.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.59 SEK 285
$28.99 SEK 279
2.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.03 SEK 405
$41.22 SEK 397
1.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.01 SEK 443
$38.68 SEK 373
18.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.09 SEK 367
$24.09 SEK 232
58.12%
Cinema Ticket
$17.78 SEK 171
$18.17 SEK 175
-2.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 SEK 1,582
$179 SEK 1,724
-8.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,573 SEK 63.3K
$4,129 SEK 39.8K
59.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.6 SEK 941
$80.3 SEK 774
21.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.76 SEK 480
$60.1 SEK 579
-17.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 SEK 1,159
$104 SEK 999
16.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 SEK 1,945
$130 SEK 1,255
54.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,566 SEK 15.1K
$981 SEK 9,454
59.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 SEK 10.5K
$763 SEK 7,348
42.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 SEK 26.5K
$1,615 SEK 15.6K
70.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,801 SEK 17.4K
$1,307 SEK 12.6K
37.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.8K SEK 113.3K
$6,408 SEK 61.7K
83.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,496 SEK 62.6K
$3,682 SEK 35.5K
76.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Lund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,643 SEK 35.1K
$2,972 SEK 28.6K
22.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.8
-13.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Stockholm: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lund: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,566 in Stockholm and $981 in Lund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stockholm pays 23% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $110 in Stockholm vs $85.0 in Lund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $355 per month, with Lund cheaper across the board.

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 Lund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stockholm or Lund?
Lund wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Stockholm. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lund the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Stockholm or in Lund?
Average pay runs 23% higher in Stockholm, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Stockholm compared to Lund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,566 in Stockholm versus $981 in Lund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Stockholm compared to Lund?
All in, you'll spend $2,582 per month in Stockholm versus $1,904 in Lund – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Stockholm compared to Lund?
A monthly transit pass in Lund runs roughly 66% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Stockholm or in Lund?
At $1,904 in Lund versus $2,582 in Stockholm, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lund but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. The gap between the two cities makes Lund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stockholm or Lund?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lund delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,904 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lund hard to pass up.
How safe is Stockholm compared to Lund?
Safety-wise, Stockholm and Lund are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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