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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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