Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Stockholm Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Stockholm

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,972 per month in Uppsala vs $2,582 in Stockholm, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,967 per month in Uppsala vs $3,840 in Stockholm, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,962 per month in Uppsala vs $5,098 in Stockholm, rent included.

Uppsala is about 24% cheaper than Stockholm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Uppsala and Stockholm sit above the global median – Uppsala by 48%, Stockholm by 93%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.00 SEK 155
$16.09 SEK 156
-0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 SEK 665
$110 SEK 1,067
-37.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.72 SEK 113
$11.68 SEK 113
0.34%
Cappuccino
$4.89 SEK 47.37
$5.20 SEK 50.3
-5.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 SEK 25.91
$3.28 SEK 31.79
-18.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 SEK 21.87
$2.47 SEK 23.89
-8.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.31 SEK 80.5
$8.51 SEK 82.4
-2.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.53 SEK 82.6
$8.31 SEK 80.5
2.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 SEK 15.81
$1.80 SEK 17.41
-9.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 SEK 27.97
$3.41 SEK 32.99
-15.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.67 SEK 45.21
$4.07 SEK 39.38
14.74%
Eggs
$5.19 SEK 50.2
$4.70 SEK 45.54
10.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.16 SEK 118
$12.77 SEK 124
-4.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.90 SEK 135
$13.23 SEK 128
5.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.40 SEK 168
$19.40 SEK 188
-10.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.89 SEK 37.69
$3.60 SEK 34.83
8.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.83 SEK 27.40
$2.90 SEK 28.06
-2.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 SEK 34.94
$3.38 SEK 32.69
6.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.18 SEK 50.2
$4.59 SEK 44.42
12.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 16.10
$1.96 SEK 19.01
-15.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 SEK 18.01
$1.89 SEK 18.25
-1.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.70 SEK 26.17
$2.52 SEK 24.35
7.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 SEK 12.73
$1.61 SEK 15.63
-18.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.15 SEK 78.9
$8.06 SEK 78.0
1.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.44 SEK 101
$12.53 SEK 121
-16.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 SEK 23.88
$2.19 SEK 21.18
12.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 SEK 25.50
$2.36 SEK 22.87
11.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.17 SEK 40.38
$4.55 SEK 44.09
-8.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$108 SEK 1,050
$112 SEK 1,085
-3.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 SEK 54.6
$6.40 SEK 61.9
-11.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 SEK 11.60
$1.66 SEK 16.03
-27.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$64.2 SEK 621
$63.3 SEK 613
1.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 SEK 19.26
$1.86 SEK 18.00
6.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1K SEK 310.4K
$33.0K SEK 319.8K
-2.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K SEK 328.1K
$34.5K SEK 334.4K
-1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 SEK 1,063
$227 SEK 2,200
-51.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.97 SEK 280
$29.59 SEK 287
-2.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.96 SEK 416
$42.03 SEK 407
2.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.06 SEK 378
$46.01 SEK 445
-15.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.76 SEK 269
$38.09 SEK 369
-27.12%
Cinema Ticket
$20.37 SEK 197
$17.78 SEK 172
14.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$145 SEK 1,406
$164 SEK 1,590
-11.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,535 SEK 53.6K
$6,573 SEK 63.6K
-15.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 SEK 850
$97.6 SEK 945
-10.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.63 SEK 403
$49.76 SEK 482
-16.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 SEK 964
$120 SEK 1,165
-17.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 SEK 1,517
$202 SEK 1,954
-22.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$928 SEK 8,982
$1,566 SEK 15.2K
-40.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$756 SEK 7,323
$1,086 SEK 10.5K
-30.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,500 SEK 14.5K
$2,754 SEK 26.7K
-45.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 SEK 10.5K
$1,801 SEK 17.4K
-39.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,452 SEK 52.8K
$11.8K SEK 113.9K
-53.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 SEK 25.4K
$6,496 SEK 62.9K
-59.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,066 SEK 29.7K
$3,643 SEK 35.3K
-15.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
4.16
15.38%

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

Last update for Uppsala: July 12, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $928 in Uppsala versus $1,566 in Stockholm. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Stockholm, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Uppsala versus $110 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $401 – making Uppsala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Uppsala or Stockholm?
Stockholm costs about 31% more than Uppsala, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Uppsala and in Stockholm?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,958 per month in Uppsala and $3,873 in Stockholm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Uppsala or Stockholm?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Uppsala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Uppsala compared to Stockholm?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Uppsala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Uppsala and in Stockholm?
Kindergarten costs $145 per month in Uppsala and $164 in Stockholm. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Uppsala or in Stockholm?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Uppsala, where all-in costs run around $1,972, than in Stockholm at $2,582. In Uppsala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockholm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Uppsala or Stockholm?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Uppsala costs $1,972 versus $2,582 in Stockholm. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Uppsala compared to Stockholm?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Uppsala or to Stockholm?
If budget matters most, go with Uppsala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stockholm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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