😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,732 in Stockholm versus $1,836 in Ostersund.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Stockholm versus $2,835 in Ostersund.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Stockholm versus $3,833 in Ostersund.
🌍Living in Stockholm is roughly 49% more expensive than in Ostersund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stockholm99% above, Ostersund34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.42SEK 177
$14.10SEK 136
30.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103SEK 988
$80.2SEK 772
28.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43SEK 110
$10.60SEK 102
7.83%
Cappuccino
$5.35SEK 51.5
$4.72SEK 45.46
13.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89SEK 37.43
$2.80SEK 26.96
38.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20SEK 30.85
$2.19SEK 21.07
46.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.46SEK 81.5
$7.18SEK 69.2
17.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.19SEK 88.5
$7.47SEK 71.9
23.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74SEK 16.80
$1.56SEK 14.98
11.54%
White Bread(500g)
$4.17SEK 40.14
$3.12SEK 30.06
33.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.09SEK 39.39
$4.99SEK 48.09
-18.04%
Eggs
$5.19SEK 49.96
$3.45SEK 33.24
50.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.23SEK 127
$14.06SEK 135
-5.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.55SEK 131
$11.66SEK 112
16.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.30SEK 215
$15.83SEK 152
40.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55SEK 34.19
$4.36SEK 41.94
-18.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97SEK 28.63
$3.02SEK 29.07
-1.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.17SEK 30.57
$3.67SEK 35.31
-13.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.70SEK 45.23
$4.10SEK 39.46
14.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87SEK 17.97
$1.60SEK 15.43
16.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80SEK 17.37
$1.68SEK 16.18
7.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49SEK 23.95
$2.32SEK 22.31
7.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49SEK 23.95
$1.49SEK 14.34
67.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10SEK 87.7
$7.99SEK 77.0
13.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.67SEK 122
$10.72SEK 103
18.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 20.66
$2.02SEK 19.47
5.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 24.64
$2.37SEK 22.86
8.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.61SEK 44.44
$3.58SEK 34.48
28.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$113SEK 1,085
$80.5SEK 776
39.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.20SEK 59.7
$6.32SEK 60.9
-1.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53SEK 14.74
$1.80SEK 17.38
-15.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.2SEK 570
$61.8SEK 595
-4.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82SEK 17.55
$1.88SEK 18.12
-3.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KSEK 332.1K
$34.5KSEK 331.9K
0.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KSEK 338.3K
$34.7KSEK 334.5K
1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$281SEK 2,709
$114SEK 1,100
146.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.69SEK 218
$26.86SEK 259
-15.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.70SEK 392
$41.08SEK 396
-0.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.06SEK 463
$40.08SEK 386
19.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.41SEK 399
$27.27SEK 263
51.85%
Cinema Ticket
$19.78SEK 191
$15.23SEK 147
29.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172SEK 1,658
$128SEK 1,237
34.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8KSEK 162.2K
$5,229SEK 50.4K
222.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120SEK 1,157
$93.1SEK 896
29.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.8SEK 557
$44.36SEK 427
30.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142SEK 1,365
$99.3SEK 956
42.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203SEK 1,952
$149SEK 1,430
36.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,787SEK 17.2K
$841SEK 8,102
112.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,096SEK 10.6K
$620SEK 5,967
76.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,323SEK 32.0K
$1,388SEK 13.4K
139.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,859SEK 17.9K
$1,050SEK 10.1K
77.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.7KSEK 113.0K
$4,297SEK 41.4K
173.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,611SEK 63.7K
$2,919SEK 28.1K
126.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,662SEK 35.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
3.42
-3.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: August 29, 2026
Last update for Ostersund: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,787 in Stockholm and $841 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $103 in Stockholm vs $80.0 in Ostersund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $433 vs $375 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 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $4,098 in Stockholm and $2,755 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: $1,787 in Stockholm versus $841 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 $2,732 per month in Stockholm versus $1,836 in Ostersund – a 49% 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 40% 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 $1,836 in Ostersund versus $2,732 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 49% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.