🙂A single person spends $1,989 per month in Uppsala vs $2,631 in Stockholm, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $3,078 per month in Uppsala vs $4,058 in Stockholm, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $4,167 per month in Uppsala vs $5,486 in Stockholm, rent included.
🙂Uppsala is about 24% cheaper than Stockholm, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Uppsala and Stockholm sit above the global median – Uppsala by 45%, Stockholm by 92%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.53SEK 153
$18.81SEK 185
-17.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.1SEK 809
$104SEK 1,027
-21.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.16SEK 100
$12.18SEK 120
-16.58%
Cappuccino
$4.99SEK 49.18
$5.23SEK 51.5
-4.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14SEK 30.96
$3.69SEK 36.36
-14.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39SEK 23.51
$3.02SEK 29.80
-20.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.97SEK 78.5
$8.33SEK 82.1
-4.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.15SEK 100.0
$9.34SEK 92.0
8.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81SEK 17.88
$1.70SEK 16.72
6.47%
White Bread(500g)
$3.04SEK 29.92
$4.15SEK 40.91
-26.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.13SEK 40.69
$3.91SEK 38.50
5.63%
Eggs
$5.17SEK 51.0
$5.29SEK 52.2
-2.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.21SEK 101
$12.99SEK 128
-21.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.82SEK 146
$13.43SEK 132
10.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.98SEK 177
$22.60SEK 223
-20.44%
Apples(1kg)
$4.34SEK 42.73
$3.64SEK 35.89
19.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81SEK 27.71
$2.84SEK 27.94
-1.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.77SEK 37.15
$3.29SEK 32.41
14.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.49SEK 54.1
$4.50SEK 44.32
22.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81SEK 17.80
$1.74SEK 17.13
4.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71SEK 16.84
$1.77SEK 17.46
-3.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62SEK 25.84
$2.46SEK 24.27
6.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32SEK 13.00
$2.35SEK 23.17
-43.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.98SEK 78.7
$8.87SEK 87.4
-10.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.27SEK 101
$12.24SEK 121
-16.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 24.75
$2.09SEK 20.61
20.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66SEK 26.23
$2.58SEK 25.47
3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.93SEK 38.77
$4.34SEK 42.77
-9.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$113SEK 1,110
$107SEK 1,058
4.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.69SEK 56.0
$5.96SEK 58.7
-4.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30SEK 12.76
$1.55SEK 15.25
-16.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.1SEK 621
$57.2SEK 563
10.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81SEK 17.79
$1.79SEK 17.64
1.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7KSEK 332.4K
$34.4KSEK 339.1K
-1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KSEK 327.0K
$35.3KSEK 347.8K
-5.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116SEK 1,142
$264SEK 2,602
-56.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.04SEK 188
$21.83SEK 215
-12.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.43SEK 438
$41.49SEK 409
7.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.93SEK 394
$47.66SEK 470
-16.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.26SEK 239
$39.48SEK 389
-38.55%
Cinema Ticket
$19.65SEK 194
$19.15SEK 189
2.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$128SEK 1,263
$166SEK 1,637
-22.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$17.0KSEK 167.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.8SEK 914
$114SEK 1,126
-18.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5SEK 498
$60.4SEK 595
-16.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.5SEK 951
$138SEK 1,363
-30.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$208SEK 2,053
$189SEK 1,864
10.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$906SEK 8,928
$1,771SEK 17.4K
-48.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716SEK 7,060
$1,072SEK 10.6K
-33.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,795SEK 17.7K
$3,181SEK 31.3K
-43.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,160SEK 11.4K
$1,881SEK 18.5K
-38.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,446SEK 53.7K
$11.8KSEK 116.3K
-53.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,613SEK 25.8K
$6,814SEK 67.2K
-61.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,073SEK 30.3K
$3,595SEK 35.4K
-14.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.94
3.37
16.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uppsala: September 13, 2026
Last update for Stockholm: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $906 in Uppsala versus $1,771 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 17% 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 $82.0 in Uppsala versus $104 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $427 – 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 32% more than Uppsala, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $2,984 per month in Uppsala and $3,946 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 5% 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 $128 per month in Uppsala and $166 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 $1,989, than in Stockholm at $2,631. 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 $1,989 versus $2,631 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.