Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Athens

For one person, living is cheaper in Athens: $1,775 a month against $1,978 in Uppsala, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. The total is higher in Uppsala despite lower rent and utilities.

Uppsala
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,978
/mo nomad
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,775
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Uppsala and in Athens

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Uppsala and in Athens actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,978 in Uppsala versus $1,775 in Athens.

  • Uppsala $1,978
  • Athens $1,775

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,051 in Uppsala versus $2,721 in Athens.

  • Uppsala $3,051
  • Athens $2,721

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,124 in Uppsala versus $3,666 in Athens.

  • Uppsala $4,124
  • Athens $3,666

Living in Uppsala is roughly 11% more expensive than in Athens, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Uppsala 46% above, Athens 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.90 SEK 148
$16.69 €14.84
-10.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0 SEK 802
$67.8 €60.3
19.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.87 SEK 97.8
$11.14 €9.91
-11.40%
Cappuccino
$4.98 SEK 49.39
$4.03 €3.58
23.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 SEK 30.25
$2.77 €2.46
10.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 SEK 23.74
$0.55 €0.49
336.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.96 SEK 78.9
$5.74 €5.10
38.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.87 SEK 97.8
$5.45 €4.85
81.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 SEK 17.91
$1.82 €1.62
-0.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 SEK 27.57
$1.38 €1.23
101.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 SEK 45.48
$2.80 €2.49
63.93%
Eggs
$5.05 SEK 50.1
$4.83 €4.30
4.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.12 SEK 100
$15.05 €13.39
-32.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.77 SEK 146
$10.63 €9.45
38.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.86 SEK 177
$18.43 €16.39
-3.09%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 SEK 41.42
$2.20 €1.96
90.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 SEK 27.06
$1.90 €1.69
43.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.49 SEK 34.63
$1.37 €1.22
154.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.12 SEK 50.7
$2.10 €1.87
143.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 SEK 19.20
$1.08 €0.96
79.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 SEK 16.80
$1.12 €1.00
51.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 SEK 26.21
$1.12 €1.00
135.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 SEK 12.68
$0.88 €0.79
45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.96 SEK 78.9
$5.48 €4.88
45.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 SEK 98.2
$10.13 €9.01
-2.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 SEK 24.51
$2.13 €1.89
15.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 SEK 24.94
$2.25 €2.00
12.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.92 SEK 38.80
$1.36 €1.21
188.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 SEK 1,103
$29.89 €26.59
272.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 SEK 52.8
$4.45 €3.96
19.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 SEK 13.13
$1.02 €0.90
29.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.3 SEK 607
$16.92 €15.05
262.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.54
$2.25 €2.00
-21.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K SEK 329.1K
$28.0K €24.9K
18.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K SEK 318.3K
$28.2K €25.1K
13.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 SEK 1,077
$205 €182
-46.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95 SEK 158
$26.65 €23.71
-40.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.42 SEK 470
$30.38 €27.02
56.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.13 SEK 388
$54.5 €48.47
-28.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.27 SEK 231
$25.88 €23.02
-10.09%
Cinema Ticket
$18.61 SEK 184
$10.42 €9.27
78.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 SEK 1,248
$569 €506
-77.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$12.6K €11.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 SEK 1,037
$88.7 €78.9
18.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.48 SEK 480
$40.46 €35.99
19.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.4 SEK 935
$105 €93.3
-10.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$200 SEK 1,982
$121 €108
64.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 SEK 8,836
$741 €659
20.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 SEK 7,009
$655 €582
8.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,750 SEK 17.3K
$1,300 €1,156
34.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,138 SEK 11.3K
$1,148 €1,021
-0.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,186 SEK 51.4K
$4,014 €3,570
29.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,595 SEK 25.7K
$3,460 €3,078
-25.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Athens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,008 SEK 29.8K
$1,242 €1,105
142.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
4.48
-15.18%

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

Last update for Uppsala: October 10, 2026

Last update for Athens: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
$707
Athens
$655 7.5% $53
Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
$391
Athens
$310 20.7% $81
Eating Out
Uppsala
$290
Athens
$268 7.6% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
$201
Athens
$160 20.6% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
$172
Athens
$262 52% $90
Getting Around
Uppsala
$139
Athens
$45 67.7% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
$76
Athens
$75 1.3% $1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $892 in Uppsala and $741 in Athens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Uppsala pays 142% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Uppsala vs $68.0 in Athens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $391 vs $310 per month, with Athens cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Uppsala
🇬🇷 Athens
🕒 Local time
02:48 2:48 AM
03:48 3:48 AM
1 h ahead of Uppsala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
166,698
3,090,508 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Uppsala Athens 2,470 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Uppsala
  • Athens

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Uppsala vs Athens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Uppsala or Athens?
Athens wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Uppsala. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Athens the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Uppsala or in Athens?
Average pay runs 142% higher in Uppsala, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Uppsala compared to Athens?
Rent for a central apartment: $892 in Uppsala versus $741 in Athens. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Uppsala and in Athens?
Dining out is cheaper in Athens – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $81.0 in Uppsala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Uppsala compared to Athens?
All in, you'll spend $1,978 per month in Uppsala versus $1,775 in Athens – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Uppsala or in Athens?
At $1,775 in Athens versus $1,978 in Uppsala, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Athens but tight or insufficient in Uppsala. The gap between the two cities makes Athens the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Uppsala or Athens?
Both work as nomad bases, but Athens delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,775 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Athens hard to pass up.
How safe is Uppsala compared to Athens?
Safety-wise, Uppsala and Athens are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Athens gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Uppsala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Uppsala vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?