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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,999 per month in Uppsala vs $2,505 in Stockholm, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,014 per month in Uppsala vs $3,800 in Stockholm, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,028 per month in Uppsala vs $5,096 in Stockholm, rent included.

Uppsala is about 20% cheaper than Stockholm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Uppsala and Stockholm sit above the global median – Uppsala by 49%, Stockholm by 87%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.78 SEK 148
$16.12 SEK 151
-2.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 SEK 656
$112 SEK 1,052
-37.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 SEK 107
$11.58 SEK 109
-1.55%
Cappuccino
$5.00 SEK 47.00
$5.08 SEK 47.72
-1.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 SEK 25.05
$3.30 SEK 30.99
-19.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 SEK 20.56
$2.50 SEK 23.51
-12.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.39 SEK 78.8
$8.67 SEK 81.5
-3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.66 SEK 81.4
$8.30 SEK 78.0
4.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 SEK 15.33
$1.72 SEK 16.14
-5.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 SEK 25.83
$3.46 SEK 32.50
-20.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.53 SEK 42.59
$3.99 SEK 37.52
13.53%
Eggs
$5.10 SEK 47.92
$4.72 SEK 44.30
8.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.89 SEK 112
$13.03 SEK 122
-8.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.97 SEK 131
$12.91 SEK 121
8.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.80 SEK 158
$19.56 SEK 184
-14.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.74 SEK 35.09
$3.62 SEK 33.96
3.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.79 SEK 26.21
$2.83 SEK 26.54
-1.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 SEK 33.51
$3.39 SEK 31.83
5.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.18 SEK 48.69
$4.60 SEK 43.17
12.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 SEK 14.82
$1.90 SEK 17.82
-16.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 SEK 16.81
$1.88 SEK 17.66
-4.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.63 SEK 24.72
$2.60 SEK 24.43
1.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 SEK 12.41
$1.61 SEK 15.08
-18.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14 SEK 76.4
$7.82 SEK 73.5
4.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.81 SEK 102
$12.85 SEK 121
-15.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 SEK 22.62
$2.16 SEK 20.29
11.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 24.13
$2.24 SEK 21.09
14.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.01 SEK 37.63
$4.57 SEK 42.88
-12.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 SEK 1,023
$110 SEK 1,035
-1.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 SEK 53.4
$6.27 SEK 58.9
-9.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 SEK 11.17
$1.57 SEK 14.77
-24.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.5 SEK 597
$62.5 SEK 587
1.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.01 SEK 18.84
$1.82 SEK 17.09
10.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K SEK 311.7K
$33.0K SEK 309.6K
0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K SEK 317.6K
$35.4K SEK 332.7K
-4.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 SEK 1,040
$229 SEK 2,148
-51.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.67 SEK 279
$28.82 SEK 271
2.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.81 SEK 412
$41.69 SEK 392
5.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.15 SEK 358
$46.58 SEK 438
-18.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.06 SEK 264
$38.46 SEK 361
-27.04%
Cinema Ticket
$19.76 SEK 186
$17.65 SEK 166
11.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$149 SEK 1,400
$165 SEK 1,552
-9.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,570 SEK 52.3K
$6,662 SEK 62.6K
-16.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.7 SEK 833
$97.4 SEK 915
-8.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94 SEK 394
$49.44 SEK 464
-15.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.7 SEK 927
$117 SEK 1,097
-15.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 SEK 1,471
$204 SEK 1,920
-23.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$943 SEK 8,862
$1,589 SEK 14.9K
-40.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$755 SEK 7,087
$1,107 SEK 10.4K
-31.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,503 SEK 14.1K
$2,769 SEK 26.0K
-45.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 SEK 10.1K
$1,805 SEK 17.0K
-40.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,511 SEK 51.8K
$12.2K SEK 115.0K
-55.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,972 SEK 27.9K
$6,689 SEK 62.8K
-55.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,097 SEK 29.1K
$3,779 SEK 35.5K
-18.06%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $943 in Uppsala versus $1,589 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 22% 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 $70.0 in Uppsala versus $112 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 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 25% 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 vs Stockholm?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,999 per month in Uppsala and $3,758 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 vs Stockholm?
Public transport costs about 1% less in Uppsala. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Uppsala and Stockholm?
Kindergarten costs $149 per month in Uppsala and $165 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 Stockholm?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Uppsala, where all-in costs run around $1,999, than in Stockholm at $2,505. 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 $1,999 versus $2,505 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 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.

Uppsala vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities