Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,826 in Sweden versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,827 in Sweden versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,828 in Sweden versus $846 in India.

Living in Sweden is roughly 371% more expensive than India on average.

Sweden (36% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Sweden: monthly costs span $1,453 to $2,505, compared to $264$888 in India. City choice carries more weight in Sweden.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sweden
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.55 SEK 136
$2.49 ₹237
484.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6 SEK 799
$14.20 ₹1,353
502.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.39 SEK 106
$3.98 ₹379
186.18%
Cappuccino
$4.71 SEK 43.93
$1.88 ₹179
150.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 SEK 26.99
$0.44 ₹41.98
556.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 SEK 21.72
$0.19 ₹18.57
1126.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 SEK 74.2
$2.02 ₹192
293.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.96 SEK 74.3
$3.45 ₹329
130.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 SEK 15.95
$0.72 ₹68.3
137.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 SEK 29.12
$0.52 ₹49.26
500.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.73 SEK 34.78
$0.72 ₹68.7
418.06%
Eggs
$4.37 SEK 40.76
$0.93 ₹88.8
369.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.24 SEK 114
$5.24 ₹499
133.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.47 SEK 116
$3.07 ₹292
306.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.26 SEK 180
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 SEK 29.39
$2.17 ₹207
45.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 SEK 25.36
$0.76 ₹72.2
257.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 SEK 28.66
$1.05 ₹100
192.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 SEK 42.23
$0.53 ₹50.7
754.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 SEK 16.45
$0.39 ₹37.53
351.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 SEK 16.49
$0.49 ₹46.81
261.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 SEK 21.79
$0.52 ₹49.35
350.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 SEK 13.59
$0.33 ₹31.13
342.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.87 SEK 73.5
$4.05 ₹386
94.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.80 SEK 110
$7.39 ₹704
59.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 SEK 19.21
$1.84 ₹175
11.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 21.10
$2.90 ₹277
-22.07%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.65 ₹538
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.73 SEK 34.85
$0.36 ₹34.59
936.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.9 SEK 849
$9.74 ₹928
833.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.23 SEK 58.1
$0.95 ₹90.6
555.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 SEK 17.09
$0.30 ₹28.64
510.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.9 SEK 587
$1.73 ₹165
3533.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 SEK 18.83
$1.23 ₹117
64.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K SEK 309.8K
$13.9K ₹1.3M
139.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K SEK 327.0K
$22.6K ₹2.2M
55.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 SEK 1,177
$40.88 ₹3,894
208.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.71 SEK 268
$3.91 ₹372
634.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.37 SEK 358
$7.81 ₹744
391.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.25 SEK 394
$16.15 ₹1,538
161.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.41 SEK 256
$7.49 ₹713
265.95%
Cinema Ticket
$16.92 SEK 158
$3.42 ₹326
394.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$155 SEK 1,448
$69.9 ₹6,660
121.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,620 SEK 24.5K
$1,793 ₹170.8K
46.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7 SEK 865
$25.83 ₹2,460
258.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.34 SEK 395
$26.61 ₹2,535
59.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 SEK 965
$45.24 ₹4,309
128.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 SEK 1,385
$33.68 ₹3,208
340.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 SEK 8,810
$178 ₹17.0K
429.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$740 SEK 6,907
$115 ₹10.9K
545.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 SEK 14.7K
$407 ₹38.8K
288.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,212 SEK 11.3K
$264 ₹25.1K
360.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,503 SEK 51.4K
$1,240 ₹118.1K
343.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,605 SEK 33.6K
$631 ₹60.1K
471.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,258 SEK 30.4K
$432 ₹41.2K
654.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.52
9.02
-49.89%

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

Last update for Sweden: May 31, 2026

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $870 in Sweden, $127 in India. Capital cities: $1,589 in Stockholm vs $239 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $3,091 in Sweden, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 585% higher in Sweden.

Dining out costs 600% more in Sweden.

Public transport is 756% more expensive in Sweden.

Salaries are 677% higher in Sweden, giving Sweden stronger purchasing power.

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
Sweden vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Sweden?
At $576 per month in India and $1,979 in Sweden, there's a 244% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Sweden beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Sweden?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Sweden, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Sweden?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Sweden may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Sweden vs other spots: cost of living compared

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