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