Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Ostersund Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Ostersund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,505 in Stockholm versus $1,802 in Ostersund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,800 in Stockholm versus $2,847 in Ostersund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,096 in Stockholm versus $3,892 in Ostersund.

Living in Stockholm is roughly 39% more expensive than Ostersund, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stockholm 87% above, Ostersund 34% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.12 SEK 150
$13.38 SEK 125
20.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 SEK 1,045
$72.5 SEK 677
54.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 SEK 108
$10.76 SEK 100
7.62%
Cappuccino
$5.08 SEK 47.40
$4.70 SEK 43.81
8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 SEK 30.79
$2.82 SEK 26.29
17.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 SEK 23.35
$2.41 SEK 22.49
3.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.67 SEK 80.9
$7.59 SEK 70.8
14.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.30 SEK 77.5
$7.83 SEK 73.1
6.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 SEK 16.03
$1.56 SEK 14.58
10.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 SEK 32.29
$3.05 SEK 28.45
13.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.99 SEK 37.28
$4.90 SEK 45.74
-18.57%
Eggs
$4.72 SEK 44.00
$3.59 SEK 33.50
31.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.03 SEK 122
$14.51 SEK 135
-10.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.91 SEK 120
$11.72 SEK 109
10.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.56 SEK 183
$16.19 SEK 151
20.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 SEK 33.73
$4.53 SEK 42.24
-20.09%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 SEK 26.37
$3.09 SEK 28.80
-8.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 SEK 31.62
$3.64 SEK 33.95
-6.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 SEK 42.88
$4.14 SEK 38.63
11.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 SEK 17.70
$3.73 SEK 34.77
-49.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 SEK 17.54
$1.78 SEK 16.61
5.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 SEK 24.27
$2.50 SEK 23.36
4.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 14.98
$1.51 SEK 14.09
6.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82 SEK 73.0
$8.21 SEK 76.6
-4.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 SEK 120
$10.85 SEK 101
18.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 SEK 20.15
$1.91 SEK 17.82
13.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 SEK 20.95
$1.95 SEK 18.18
14.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.57 SEK 42.60
$3.44 SEK 32.07
32.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$110 SEK 1,028
$74.1 SEK 691
48.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.27 SEK 58.5
$6.43 SEK 60.0
-2.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 SEK 14.67
$1.64 SEK 15.34
-4.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.5 SEK 583
$62.1 SEK 579
0.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 SEK 16.98
$2.09 SEK 19.51
-12.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 307.6K
$33.0K SEK 308.4K
-0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K SEK 330.5K
$34.4K SEK 320.6K
3.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 SEK 2,133
$114 SEK 1,067
99.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.82 SEK 269
$28.69 SEK 268
0.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.69 SEK 389
$36.81 SEK 343
13.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.58 SEK 435
$41.30 SEK 385
12.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.46 SEK 359
$25.71 SEK 240
49.59%
Cinema Ticket
$17.65 SEK 165
$15.52 SEK 145
13.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$165 SEK 1,541
$132 SEK 1,233
25.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,662 SEK 62.2K
$4,119 SEK 38.4K
61.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4 SEK 909
$94.1 SEK 878
3.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.44 SEK 461
$40.96 SEK 382
20.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 SEK 1,090
$99.1 SEK 924
17.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204 SEK 1,907
$151 SEK 1,413
34.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 SEK 14.8K
$831 SEK 7,756
91.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 SEK 10.3K
$655 SEK 6,113
69.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,769 SEK 25.8K
$1,390 SEK 13.0K
99.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,805 SEK 16.8K
$1,097 SEK 10.2K
64.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.2K SEK 114.3K
$4,366 SEK 40.7K
180.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,689 SEK 62.4K
$3,010 SEK 28.1K
122.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,779 SEK 35.3K
-
-
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ostersund: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,589 in Stockholm and $831 in Ostersund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $112 in Stockholm vs $73.0 in Ostersund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $401 vs $385 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 $3,758 in Stockholm and $2,703 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: $1,589 in Stockholm versus $831 in Ostersund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Stockholm vs Ostersund?
All in, you'll spend $2,505 per month in Stockholm versus $1,802 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 49% 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 Stockholm or Ostersund?
At $1,802 in Ostersund versus $2,505 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.

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