Cost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and IndiaCost of Living Comparison Between Sweden and India
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,828 in Sweden versus $388 in India.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,831 in Sweden versus $617 in India.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,834 in Sweden versus $846 in India.
🌍Living in Sweden is roughly 371% more expensive than in India on average.
📊Sweden (37% above) and India (71% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Sweden: monthly costs span $1,448 to $2,582, compared to $265–$913 in India. City choice carries more weight in Sweden.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sweden
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86SEK 143
$2.53₹244
487.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4SEK 823
$13.73₹1,322
522.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.45SEK 110
$4.00₹385
186.25%
Cappuccino
$4.82SEK 46.44
$1.91₹184
152.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82SEK 27.19
$0.43₹41.85
555.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.90
$0.17₹16.11
1300.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.04SEK 77.5
$1.93₹186
316.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03SEK 77.4
$3.54₹341
126.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SEK 16.42
$0.73₹69.9
132.88%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13SEK 30.15
$0.52₹50.1
501.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86SEK 37.15
$0.73₹69.9
428.77%
Eggs
$4.53SEK 43.66
$0.95₹91.4
376.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.07SEK 116
$5.32₹512
126.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20SEK 118
$3.10₹299
293.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.93SEK 182
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 30.38
$2.16₹208
45.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84SEK 27.32
$0.70₹67.7
305.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.07SEK 29.59
$1.05₹101
192.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.38SEK 42.17
$0.53₹50.8
726.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84SEK 17.69
$0.39₹37.66
371.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82SEK 17.56
$0.48₹46.64
279.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33SEK 22.50
$0.52₹49.78
348.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SEK 14.03
$0.36₹34.33
305.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14SEK 78.5
$4.02₹387
102.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.30SEK 109
$7.28₹701
55.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11SEK 20.29
$1.90₹183
11.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18SEK 21.03
$3.03₹292
-28.05%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.84₹562
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.71SEK 35.79
$0.36₹34.66
930.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.6SEK 873
$9.84₹948
820.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.52SEK 62.8
$0.95₹91.8
586.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SEK 17.58
$0.30₹29.03
506.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.0SEK 607
$1.79₹172
3417.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.55
$1.21₹117
59.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 307.9K
$13.9K₹1.3M
130.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 335.7K
$22.4K₹2.2M
55.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127SEK 1,226
$40.16₹3,867
216.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.12SEK 281
$3.76₹362
674.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.54SEK 371
$8.04₹774
379.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.63SEK 401
$16.25₹1,565
156.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.79SEK 268
$7.56₹728
267.59%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12SEK 165
$3.43₹330
399.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152SEK 1,466
$69.7₹6,713
118.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,607SEK 25.1K
$1,852₹178.3K
40.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1SEK 916
$25.59₹2,463
271.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.34SEK 398
$26.30₹2,532
57.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105SEK 1,009
$44.89₹4,322
133.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150SEK 1,447
$33.20₹3,197
352.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$941SEK 9,070
$174₹16.8K
439.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$744SEK 7,165
$112₹10.8K
560.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,565SEK 15.1K
$405₹39.0K
286.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215SEK 11.7K
$258₹24.8K
371.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,268SEK 50.8K
$1,263₹121.6K
317.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,325SEK 32.0K
$653₹62.8K
409.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,114SEK 30.0K
$424₹40.8K
634.19%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for India: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $868 in Sweden, $127 in India. Capital cities: $1,566 in Stockholm vs $242 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $2,959 in Sweden, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 583% higher in Sweden.
⭐Dining out costs 600% more in Sweden.
⭐Public transport is 756% more expensive in Sweden.
⭐Salaries are 643% higher in Sweden, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Sweden.
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 $589 per month in India and $2,015 in Sweden, there's a 242% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 in Sweden?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Sweden it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to 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.