Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Lund Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Lund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,989 in Uppsala versus $1,848 in Lund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,078 in Uppsala versus $2,994 in Lund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,167 in Uppsala versus $4,141 in Lund.

Living in Uppsala is roughly 8% more expensive than in Lund, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Uppsala 45% above, Lund 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.53 SEK 152
$13.13 SEK 128
18.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1 SEK 803
$93.7 SEK 917
-12.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.16 SEK 99.4
$12.22 SEK 119
-16.86%
Cappuccino
$4.99 SEK 48.80
$4.90 SEK 47.95
1.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 SEK 30.73
$2.76 SEK 27.04
13.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 SEK 23.33
$2.17 SEK 21.22
10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.97 SEK 77.9
$8.24 SEK 80.6
-3.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.15 SEK 99.2
$7.30 SEK 71.4
39.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 SEK 17.74
$1.76 SEK 17.24
2.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 SEK 29.69
$2.70 SEK 26.37
12.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.13 SEK 40.39
$3.65 SEK 35.71
13.15%
Eggs
$5.17 SEK 50.6
$4.69 SEK 45.86
10.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.21 SEK 99.9
$12.68 SEK 124
-19.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.82 SEK 145
$12.13 SEK 119
22.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.98 SEK 176
$17.00 SEK 166
5.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.34 SEK 42.41
$3.10 SEK 30.35
40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 SEK 27.50
$3.06 SEK 29.88
-8.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.77 SEK 36.87
$2.90 SEK 28.39
30.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.49 SEK 53.7
$4.70 SEK 46.00
16.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 SEK 17.67
$1.82 SEK 17.75
-0.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 SEK 16.71
$1.45 SEK 14.14
17.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 SEK 25.65
$2.76 SEK 26.96
-5.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 SEK 12.91
$1.56 SEK 15.23
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.98 SEK 78.1
$8.11 SEK 79.4
-1.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.27 SEK 100
$11.12 SEK 109
-7.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 24.56
$1.90 SEK 18.54
32.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 SEK 26.03
$2.76 SEK 26.98
-3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.93 SEK 38.48
$3.37 SEK 32.92
16.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$113 SEK 1,102
$65.6 SEK 642
71.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 SEK 55.6
$5.09 SEK 49.77
11.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 SEK 12.66
$1.10 SEK 10.77
18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.1 SEK 617
$42.79 SEK 418
47.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 SEK 17.66
$1.77 SEK 17.31
2.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K SEK 329.9K
$34.5K SEK 336.9K
-2.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K SEK 324.5K
$33.2K SEK 325.1K
-0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 SEK 1,133
$80.6 SEK 788
43.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.04 SEK 186
$30.82 SEK 301
-38.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.43 SEK 434
$42.87 SEK 419
3.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.93 SEK 391
$37.93 SEK 371
5.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.26 SEK 237
$28.37 SEK 277
-14.49%
Cinema Ticket
$19.65 SEK 192
$15.18 SEK 148
29.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 SEK 1,253
$160 SEK 1,565
-19.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.8 SEK 907
$83.0 SEK 811
11.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 SEK 494
$58.9 SEK 576
-14.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.5 SEK 944
$102 SEK 998
-5.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$208 SEK 2,038
$125 SEK 1,226
66.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$906 SEK 8,861
$852 SEK 8,332
6.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 SEK 7,007
$677 SEK 6,626
5.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,795 SEK 17.6K
$1,738 SEK 17.0K
3.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,160 SEK 11.3K
$1,428 SEK 14.0K
-18.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,446 SEK 53.3K
$6,299 SEK 61.6K
-13.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,613 SEK 25.6K
$3,696 SEK 36.1K
-29.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Lund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,073 SEK 30.1K
$2,988 SEK 29.2K
2.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.94
3.03
30.03%

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

Last update for Uppsala: September 13, 2026

Last update for Lund: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $906 in Uppsala and $852 in Lund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Uppsala pays 3% 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: $82.0 in Uppsala vs $94.0 in Lund. Groceries flip the comparison at $399 vs $372, with Lund cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Uppsala or Lund?
Lund wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Uppsala. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lund the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Uppsala or in Lund?
Average pay runs 3% 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 Lund?
Rent for a central apartment: $906 in Uppsala versus $852 in Lund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Uppsala compared to Lund?
All in, you'll spend $1,989 per month in Uppsala versus $1,848 in Lund – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Uppsala compared to Lund?
A monthly transit pass in Lund runs roughly 72% less than in Uppsala. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Uppsala or in Lund?
At $1,848 in Lund versus $1,989 in Uppsala, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lund but tight or insufficient in Uppsala. The gap between the two cities makes Lund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Uppsala or Lund?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lund delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,848 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lund hard to pass up.
How safe is Uppsala compared to Lund?
Safety-wise, Uppsala and Lund 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 Lund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% 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