😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,582 in Stockholm versus $1,859 in Ostersund.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,840 in Stockholm versus $2,859 in Ostersund.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,098 in Stockholm versus $3,860 in Ostersund.
🌍Living in Stockholm is roughly 39% more expensive than in Ostersund, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stockholm93% above, Ostersund39% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.09SEK 156
$13.60SEK 131
18.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110SEK 1,065
$73.0SEK 705
51.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.68SEK 113
$10.34SEK 100.0
12.96%
Cappuccino
$5.20SEK 50.3
$4.74SEK 45.81
9.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28SEK 31.74
$2.81SEK 27.17
16.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47SEK 23.85
$2.50SEK 24.17
-1.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.51SEK 82.3
$7.88SEK 76.2
7.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.31SEK 80.3
$7.80SEK 75.4
6.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.38
$1.49SEK 14.43
20.81%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41SEK 32.94
$3.01SEK 29.11
13.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.07SEK 39.31
$4.99SEK 48.24
-18.44%
Eggs
$4.70SEK 45.47
$3.43SEK 33.18
37.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.77SEK 123
$14.39SEK 139
-11.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.23SEK 128
$11.77SEK 114
12.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40SEK 187
$15.76SEK 152
23.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.60SEK 34.77
$4.57SEK 44.13
-21.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.90SEK 28.01
$2.97SEK 28.71
-2.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.38SEK 32.64
$3.67SEK 35.48
-7.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.59SEK 44.35
$4.12SEK 39.84
11.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96SEK 18.98
$3.77SEK 36.41
-48.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89SEK 18.23
$1.82SEK 17.61
3.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52SEK 24.32
$2.53SEK 24.48
-0.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61SEK 15.60
$1.58SEK 15.23
1.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.06SEK 77.9
$8.13SEK 78.6
-0.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.53SEK 121
$10.10SEK 97.6
24.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 21.15
$1.96SEK 18.96
11.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36SEK 22.83
$1.89SEK 18.28
24.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.55SEK 44.02
$3.29SEK 31.76
38.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$112SEK 1,083
$74.3SEK 718
50.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.40SEK 61.9
$6.22SEK 60.1
2.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 16.00
$1.59SEK 15.41
4.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.3SEK 612
$63.0SEK 609
0.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86SEK 17.97
$2.01SEK 19.39
-7.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 319.3K
$32.3KSEK 312.0K
2.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 333.9K
$33.7KSEK 325.4K
2.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227SEK 2,196
$115SEK 1,114
97.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.59SEK 286
$28.32SEK 274
4.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.03SEK 406
$36.23SEK 350
16.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.01SEK 445
$40.03SEK 387
14.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.09SEK 368
$25.78SEK 249
47.75%
Cinema Ticket
$17.78SEK 172
$15.71SEK 152
13.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164SEK 1,587
$129SEK 1,248
27.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,573SEK 63.5K
$4,166SEK 40.3K
57.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.6SEK 944
$94.0SEK 908
3.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.76SEK 481
$40.25SEK 389
23.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120SEK 1,163
$98.3SEK 950
22.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202SEK 1,951
$150SEK 1,452
34.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566SEK 15.1K
$840SEK 8,116
86.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,086SEK 10.5K
$645SEK 6,233
68.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,754SEK 26.6K
$1,387SEK 13.4K
98.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,801SEK 17.4K
$1,064SEK 10.3K
69.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.8KSEK 113.7K
$3,780SEK 36.5K
211.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,496SEK 62.8K
$2,856SEK 27.6K
127.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,643SEK 35.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
4.53
-8.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ostersund: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,566 in Stockholm and $840 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $110 in Stockholm vs $73.0 in Ostersund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $382 per month, with Ostersund 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 Ostersund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ostersund cheaper than Stockholm?
Ostersund is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,873 in Stockholm and $2,788 in Ostersund to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Stockholm and Ostersund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,566 in Stockholm versus $840 in Ostersund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stockholm and in Ostersund?
All in, you'll spend $2,582 per month in Stockholm versus $1,859 in Ostersund – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ostersund runs roughly 51% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Stockholm or in Ostersund?
At $1,859 in Ostersund versus $2,582 in Stockholm, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ostersund but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. The gap between the two cities makes Ostersund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Stockholm or Ostersund more family-friendly?
For families, Ostersund is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stockholm, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Stockholm or Ostersund?
Safety-wise, Stockholm and Ostersund 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ostersund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.