😐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: Stockholm87% above, Ostersund34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.12SEK 150
$13.38SEK 125
20.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112SEK 1,045
$72.5SEK 677
54.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58SEK 108
$10.76SEK 100
7.62%
Cappuccino
$5.08SEK 47.40
$4.70SEK 43.81
8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30SEK 30.79
$2.82SEK 26.29
17.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 23.35
$2.41SEK 22.49
3.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.67SEK 80.9
$7.59SEK 70.8
14.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.30SEK 77.5
$7.83SEK 73.1
6.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SEK 16.03
$1.56SEK 14.58
10.26%
White Bread(500g)
$3.46SEK 32.29
$3.05SEK 28.45
13.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.99SEK 37.28
$4.90SEK 45.74
-18.57%
Eggs
$4.72SEK 44.00
$3.59SEK 33.50
31.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.03SEK 122
$14.51SEK 135
-10.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.91SEK 120
$11.72SEK 109
10.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.56SEK 183
$16.19SEK 151
20.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62SEK 33.73
$4.53SEK 42.24
-20.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83SEK 26.37
$3.09SEK 28.80
-8.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39SEK 31.62
$3.64SEK 33.95
-6.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60SEK 42.88
$4.14SEK 38.63
11.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90SEK 17.70
$3.73SEK 34.77
-49.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88SEK 17.54
$1.78SEK 16.61
5.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60SEK 24.27
$2.50SEK 23.36
4.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61SEK 14.98
$1.51SEK 14.09
6.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82SEK 73.0
$8.21SEK 76.6
-4.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.85SEK 120
$10.85SEK 101
18.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16SEK 20.15
$1.91SEK 17.82
13.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24SEK 20.95
$1.95SEK 18.18
14.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.57SEK 42.60
$3.44SEK 32.07
32.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$110SEK 1,028
$74.1SEK 691
48.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.27SEK 58.5
$6.43SEK 60.0
-2.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57SEK 14.67
$1.64SEK 15.34
-4.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.5SEK 583
$62.1SEK 579
0.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82SEK 16.98
$2.09SEK 19.51
-12.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 307.6K
$33.0KSEK 308.4K
-0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4KSEK 330.5K
$34.4KSEK 320.6K
3.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229SEK 2,133
$114SEK 1,067
99.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.82SEK 269
$28.69SEK 268
0.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.69SEK 389
$36.81SEK 343
13.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.58SEK 435
$41.30SEK 385
12.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.46SEK 359
$25.71SEK 240
49.59%
Cinema Ticket
$17.65SEK 165
$15.52SEK 145
13.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165SEK 1,541
$132SEK 1,233
25.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,662SEK 62.2K
$4,119SEK 38.4K
61.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4SEK 909
$94.1SEK 878
3.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.44SEK 461
$40.96SEK 382
20.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117SEK 1,090
$99.1SEK 924
17.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204SEK 1,907
$151SEK 1,413
34.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,589SEK 14.8K
$831SEK 7,756
91.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,107SEK 10.3K
$655SEK 6,113
69.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,769SEK 25.8K
$1,390SEK 13.0K
99.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,805SEK 16.8K
$1,097SEK 10.2K
64.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.2KSEK 114.3K
$4,366SEK 40.7K
180.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,689SEK 62.4K
$3,010SEK 28.1K
122.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Ostersund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,779SEK 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.