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: $1,823 in Sweden versus $363 in India.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,827 in Sweden versus $575 in India.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,831 in Sweden versus $786 in India.
🌍Living in Sweden is roughly 402% more expensive than in India on average.
📊Sweden (33% above) and India (73% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Sweden: monthly costs span $1,437 to $2,631, compared to $230–$823 in India. City choice carries more weight in Sweden.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sweden
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.88SEK 146
$2.11₹202
605.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7SEK 792
$10.62₹1,019
659.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.18SEK 110
$3.62₹348
208.84%
Cappuccino
$4.70SEK 46.13
$1.65₹159
184.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86SEK 28.09
$0.38₹36.28
652.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 23.10
$0.14₹13.46
1578.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.98SEK 78.4
$1.86₹179
329.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65SEK 75.1
$3.22₹309
137.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sweden
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65SEK 16.22
$0.68₹65.0
142.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.94SEK 28.88
$0.49₹47.28
500.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56SEK 34.96
$0.66₹63.3
439.39%
Eggs
$4.24SEK 41.66
$0.87₹83.6
387.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81SEK 116
$4.76₹456
148.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.05SEK 118
$2.79₹267
331.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.34SEK 190
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.16SEK 31.02
$1.96₹188
61.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60SEK 25.57
$0.68₹65.3
282.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08SEK 30.30
$0.95₹90.8
224.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.54SEK 44.62
$0.50₹48.31
808.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79SEK 17.63
$0.34₹32.37
426.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SEK 16.01
$0.38₹36.89
328.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.34SEK 23.00
$0.45₹42.90
420.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42SEK 13.91
$0.31₹29.82
358.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.89SEK 77.6
$5.10₹489
54.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.26SEK 111
$7.13₹684
57.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03SEK 19.99
$1.70₹163
19.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19SEK 21.51
$2.67₹256
-17.98%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.12₹491
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sweden
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.68SEK 36.16
$0.27₹26.10
1262.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.7SEK 881
$8.56₹821
948.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.12SEK 60.1
$0.90₹86.7
580.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.97SEK 19.40
$0.25₹23.70
688.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.8SEK 607
$1.62₹155
3713.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 18.58
$1.07₹102
76.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KSEK 329.5K
$12.5K₹1.2M
168.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KSEK 336.4K
$19.6K₹1.9M
74.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sweden
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131SEK 1,291
$37.89₹3,635
246.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.19SEK 267
$3.61₹346
653.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.82SEK 381
$6.92₹664
460.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sweden
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.38SEK 397
$14.49₹1,390
178.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.49SEK 270
$7.15₹686
284.48%
Cinema Ticket
$16.32SEK 160
$3.15₹302
418.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sweden
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155SEK 1,526
$57.2₹5,485
171.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,705SEK 46.2K
$1,669₹160.1K
181.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sweden
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.6SEK 930
$22.52₹2,161
320.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.36SEK 416
$24.70₹2,369
71.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102SEK 1,002
$40.36₹3,872
152.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147SEK 1,442
$30.64₹2,939
379.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sweden
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$863SEK 8,483
$146₹14.0K
493.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$694SEK 6,821
$89.2₹8,557
678.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,434SEK 14.1K
$334₹32.0K
329.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,155SEK 11.3K
$214₹20.5K
440.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,217SEK 51.3K
$1,206₹115.7K
332.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,320SEK 32.6K
$613₹58.8K
441.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sweden
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,033SEK 29.8K
$435₹41.7K
596.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
8.93
-58.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sweden: September 15, 2026
Last update for India: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $841 in Sweden, $119 in India. Capital cities: $1,771 in Stockholm vs $270 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $2,985 in Sweden, $405 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 607% higher in Sweden.
⭐Dining out costs 690% more in Sweden.
⭐Public transport is 1043% more expensive in Sweden.
⭐Salaries are 637% 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 $527 per month in India and $2,034 in Sweden, there's a 286% 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.