😐A single person spends $2,701 per month in Stockholm vs $1,816 in Skovde, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,056 per month in Stockholm vs $2,840 in Skovde, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,411 per month in Stockholm vs $3,864 in Skovde, rent included.
😐Stockholm costs about 49% more than Skovde, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Stockholm and Skovde sit above the global median – Stockholm by 96%, Skovde by 32%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.46SEK 179
$13.75SEK 133
34.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$105SEK 1,018
$84.7SEK 821
24.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.59SEK 112
$10.24SEK 99.3
13.18%
Cappuccino
$5.11SEK 49.51
$4.47SEK 43.34
14.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77SEK 36.56
$3.11SEK 30.19
21.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28SEK 31.81
$2.43SEK 23.53
34.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.18SEK 79.3
$8.44SEK 81.8
-3.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.31SEK 90.2
$10.22SEK 99.1
-8.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78SEK 17.23
$1.42SEK 13.76
25.35%
White Bread(500g)
$4.02SEK 38.96
$2.97SEK 28.76
35.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.12SEK 39.96
$4.30SEK 41.65
-4.19%
Eggs
$5.43SEK 52.7
$3.85SEK 37.28
41.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49SEK 131
$10.60SEK 103
27.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.56SEK 131
$13.34SEK 129
1.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.13SEK 214
$18.68SEK 181
18.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70SEK 35.83
$4.28SEK 41.47
-13.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83SEK 27.40
$2.77SEK 26.85
2.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24SEK 31.41
$3.62SEK 35.10
-10.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79SEK 46.47
$5.51SEK 53.4
-13.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.16
$1.60SEK 15.50
16.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86SEK 18.04
$1.76SEK 17.09
5.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57SEK 24.87
$2.63SEK 25.52
-2.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 23.30
$1.37SEK 13.27
75.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.12SEK 88.4
$8.36SEK 81.0
9.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.57SEK 122
$8.30SEK 80.5
51.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 20.84
$2.57SEK 24.87
-16.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58SEK 24.99
$2.73SEK 26.51
-5.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.59SEK 44.52
$3.69SEK 35.82
24.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$111SEK 1,076
$87.2SEK 845
27.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.21SEK 60.2
$5.61SEK 54.4
10.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55SEK 14.98
$1.32SEK 12.82
17.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.6SEK 568
$65.1SEK 631
-9.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.41
$1.76SEK 17.10
7.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KSEK 337.9K
$33.7KSEK 326.6K
3.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KSEK 338.4K
$34.3KSEK 332.0K
1.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$287SEK 2,782
$115SEK 1,118
148.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.96SEK 213
$11.68SEK 113
88.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.97SEK 387
$45.96SEK 446
-13.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.02SEK 475
$38.69SEK 375
26.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.25SEK 390
$26.02SEK 252
54.69%
Cinema Ticket
$19.94SEK 193
$19.70SEK 191
1.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168SEK 1,632
$130SEK 1,264
29.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4KSEK 168.9K
$5,827SEK 56.5K
198.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118SEK 1,139
$94.7SEK 918
24.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6SEK 549
$30.80SEK 299
83.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141SEK 1,364
$61.4SEK 595
129.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$200SEK 1,936
$207SEK 2,003
-3.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,773SEK 17.2K
$845SEK 8,194
109.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,113SEK 10.8K
$603SEK 5,849
84.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,309SEK 32.1K
$1,378SEK 13.4K
140.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,920SEK 18.6K
$1,072SEK 10.4K
79.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.6KSEK 112.7K
$4,229SEK 41.0K
174.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,540SEK 63.4K
$2,881SEK 27.9K
126.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Skovde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,645SEK 35.3K
$3,448SEK 33.4K
5.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
3
10.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stockholm: September 7, 2026
Last update for Skovde: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,773 in Stockholm versus $845 in Skovde. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 6% higher in Stockholm, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $105 in Stockholm versus $85.0 in Skovde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $381 – making Skovde the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Skovde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stockholm or Skovde?
Stockholm costs about 49% more than Skovde, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Stockholm and in Skovde?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,052 per month in Stockholm and $2,723 in Skovde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Stockholm or Skovde?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skovde, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Stockholm and in Skovde?
Kindergarten costs $168 per month in Stockholm and $130 in Skovde. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Stockholm or in Skovde?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Stockholm, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Stockholm or in Skovde?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Skovde, where all-in costs run around $1,816, than in Stockholm at $2,701. In Skovde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockholm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Stockholm or Skovde?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Skovde costs $1,816 versus $2,701 in Stockholm. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Stockholm compared to Skovde?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Stockholm or to Skovde?
If budget matters most, go with Skovde. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stockholm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.