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: $1,828 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
$14.86 SEK 143
$2.53 ₹244
487.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4 SEK 823
$13.73 ₹1,322
522.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.45 SEK 110
$4.00 ₹385
186.25%
Cappuccino
$4.82 SEK 46.44
$1.91 ₹184
152.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 SEK 27.19
$0.43 ₹41.85
555.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 SEK 22.90
$0.17 ₹16.11
1300.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.04 SEK 77.5
$1.93 ₹186
316.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 SEK 77.4
$3.54 ₹341
126.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 16.42
$0.73 ₹69.9
132.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.13 SEK 30.15
$0.52 ₹50.1
501.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.86 SEK 37.15
$0.73 ₹69.9
428.77%
Eggs
$4.53 SEK 43.66
$0.95 ₹91.4
376.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.07 SEK 116
$5.32 ₹512
126.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 SEK 118
$3.10 ₹299
293.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.93 SEK 182
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 SEK 30.38
$2.16 ₹208
45.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 SEK 27.32
$0.70 ₹67.7
305.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.07 SEK 29.59
$1.05 ₹101
192.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.38 SEK 42.17
$0.53 ₹50.8
726.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 SEK 17.69
$0.39 ₹37.66
371.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 SEK 17.56
$0.48 ₹46.64
279.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.33 SEK 22.50
$0.52 ₹49.78
348.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 SEK 14.03
$0.36 ₹34.33
305.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14 SEK 78.5
$4.02 ₹387
102.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.30 SEK 109
$7.28 ₹701
55.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 SEK 20.29
$1.90 ₹183
11.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 SEK 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)
$3.71 SEK 35.79
$0.36 ₹34.66
930.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.6 SEK 873
$9.84 ₹948
820.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.52 SEK 62.8
$0.95 ₹91.8
586.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 SEK 17.58
$0.30 ₹29.03
506.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.0 SEK 607
$1.79 ₹172
3417.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 SEK 18.55
$1.21 ₹117
59.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K SEK 307.9K
$13.9K ₹1.3M
130.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K SEK 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)
$127 SEK 1,226
$40.16 ₹3,867
216.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.12 SEK 281
$3.76 ₹362
674.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.54 SEK 371
$8.04 ₹774
379.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.63 SEK 401
$16.25 ₹1,565
156.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.79 SEK 268
$7.56 ₹728
267.59%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12 SEK 165
$3.43 ₹330
399.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 SEK 1,466
$69.7 ₹6,713
118.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,607 SEK 25.1K
$1,852 ₹178.3K
40.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1 SEK 916
$25.59 ₹2,463
271.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.34 SEK 398
$26.30 ₹2,532
57.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 SEK 1,009
$44.89 ₹4,322
133.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 SEK 1,447
$33.20 ₹3,197
352.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$941 SEK 9,070
$174 ₹16.8K
439.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$744 SEK 7,165
$112 ₹10.8K
560.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,565 SEK 15.1K
$405 ₹39.0K
286.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 SEK 11.7K
$258 ₹24.8K
371.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,268 SEK 50.8K
$1,263 ₹121.6K
317.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,325 SEK 32.0K
$653 ₹62.8K
409.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,114 SEK 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.

Sweden vs other spots: cost of living compared

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