Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Uppsala Cost of Living Comparison Between Stockholm and Uppsala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,505 per month in Stockholm vs $1,999 in Uppsala, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,800 per month in Stockholm vs $3,014 in Uppsala, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,096 per month in Stockholm vs $4,028 in Uppsala, rent included.

Stockholm costs about 25% more than Uppsala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Stockholm and Uppsala sit above the global median – Stockholm by 87%, Uppsala by 49%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.12 SEK 151
$15.78 SEK 148
2.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112 SEK 1,052
$69.9 SEK 656
60.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 SEK 109
$11.40 SEK 107
1.58%
Cappuccino
$5.08 SEK 47.72
$5.00 SEK 47.00
1.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 SEK 30.99
$2.67 SEK 25.05
23.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 SEK 23.51
$2.19 SEK 20.56
14.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.67 SEK 81.5
$8.39 SEK 78.8
3.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.30 SEK 78.0
$8.66 SEK 81.4
-4.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 SEK 16.14
$1.63 SEK 15.33
5.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.46 SEK 32.50
$2.75 SEK 25.83
25.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.99 SEK 37.52
$4.53 SEK 42.59
-11.92%
Eggs
$4.72 SEK 44.30
$5.10 SEK 47.92
-7.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.03 SEK 122
$11.89 SEK 112
9.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.91 SEK 121
$13.97 SEK 131
-7.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.56 SEK 184
$16.80 SEK 158
16.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 SEK 33.96
$3.74 SEK 35.09
-3.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 SEK 26.54
$2.79 SEK 26.21
1.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 SEK 31.83
$3.57 SEK 33.51
-5.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 SEK 43.17
$5.18 SEK 48.69
-11.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 SEK 17.82
$1.58 SEK 14.82
20.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 SEK 17.66
$1.79 SEK 16.81
5.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 SEK 24.43
$2.63 SEK 24.72
-1.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 15.08
$1.32 SEK 12.41
21.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.82 SEK 73.5
$8.14 SEK 76.4
-3.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 SEK 121
$10.81 SEK 102
18.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 SEK 20.29
$2.41 SEK 22.62
-10.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 SEK 21.09
$2.57 SEK 24.13
-12.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.57 SEK 42.88
$4.01 SEK 37.63
13.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$110 SEK 1,035
$109 SEK 1,023
1.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.27 SEK 58.9
$5.69 SEK 53.4
10.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 SEK 14.77
$1.19 SEK 11.17
31.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.5 SEK 587
$63.5 SEK 597
-1.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 SEK 17.09
$2.01 SEK 18.84
-9.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 309.6K
$33.2K SEK 311.7K
-0.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K SEK 332.7K
$33.8K SEK 317.6K
4.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 SEK 2,148
$111 SEK 1,040
106.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.82 SEK 271
$29.67 SEK 279
-2.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.69 SEK 392
$43.81 SEK 412
-4.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.58 SEK 438
$38.15 SEK 358
22.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.46 SEK 361
$28.06 SEK 264
37.06%
Cinema Ticket
$17.65 SEK 166
$19.76 SEK 186
-10.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$165 SEK 1,552
$149 SEK 1,400
10.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,662 SEK 62.6K
$5,570 SEK 52.3K
19.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4 SEK 915
$88.7 SEK 833
9.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.44 SEK 464
$41.94 SEK 394
17.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 SEK 1,097
$98.7 SEK 927
18.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204 SEK 1,920
$157 SEK 1,471
30.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,589 SEK 14.9K
$943 SEK 8,862
68.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 SEK 10.4K
$755 SEK 7,087
46.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,769 SEK 26.0K
$1,503 SEK 14.1K
84.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,805 SEK 17.0K
$1,075 SEK 10.1K
67.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.2K SEK 115.0K
$5,511 SEK 51.8K
122.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,689 SEK 62.8K
$2,972 SEK 27.9K
125.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stockholm
Uppsala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,779 SEK 35.5K
$3,097 SEK 29.1K
22.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.8
-13.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Stockholm: June 1, 2026

Last update for Uppsala: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,589 in Stockholm versus $943 in Uppsala. 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 22% 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 $112 in Stockholm versus $70.0 in Uppsala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $387 – making Uppsala 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 Uppsala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stockholm or Uppsala?
Stockholm costs about 25% more than Uppsala, 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 vs Uppsala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,758 per month in Stockholm and $2,999 in Uppsala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Stockholm or Uppsala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Uppsala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Stockholm vs Uppsala?
Public transport costs about 1% less in Uppsala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Stockholm and Uppsala?
Kindergarten costs $165 per month in Stockholm and $149 in Uppsala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Stockholm or Uppsala?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Uppsala, where all-in costs run around $1,999, than in Stockholm at $2,505. In Uppsala 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 Uppsala?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Uppsala costs $1,999 versus $2,505 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 Uppsala?
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 Uppsala?
If budget matters most, go with Uppsala. 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.

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