πA single person spends $2,947 per month in Utrecht vs $2,094 in Skelleftea, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,160 per month in Utrecht vs $3,153 in Skelleftea, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,373 per month in Utrecht vs $4,211 in Skelleftea, rent included.
πUtrecht costs about 41% more than Skelleftea, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth Utrecht and Skelleftea sit above the global median β Utrecht by 120%, Skelleftea by 56%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.14β¬18.19
$14.69SEKΒ 137
43.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.5β¬75.3
$68.5SEKΒ 640
27.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.95β¬12.00
$12.94SEKΒ 121
7.81%
Cappuccino
$4.39β¬3.78
$4.60SEKΒ 42.94
-4.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95β¬3.40
$2.48SEKΒ 23.15
59.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15β¬2.71
$2.02SEKΒ 18.83
55.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03β¬6.05
$8.77SEKΒ 81.8
-19.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86β¬5.04
$8.38SEKΒ 78.2
-30.07%
π Groceries & Markets
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35β¬1.16
$1.67SEKΒ 15.60
-19.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52β¬2.17
$2.66SEKΒ 24.83
-5.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00β¬2.58
$5.15SEKΒ 48.03
-41.75%
Eggs
$5.39β¬4.63
$4.84SEKΒ 45.19
11.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.04β¬12.08
$11.61SEKΒ 108
20.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.53β¬14.22
$11.53SEKΒ 108
43.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.40β¬14.97
$22.74SEKΒ 212
-23.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35β¬2.02
$2.56SEKΒ 23.92
-8.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48β¬2.14
$2.56SEKΒ 23.86
-3.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β¬1.66
$3.24SEKΒ 30.25
-40.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70β¬3.18
$3.65SEKΒ 34.02
1.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94β¬1.67
$2.13SEKΒ 19.90
-8.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23β¬1.92
$1.60SEKΒ 14.97
39.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36β¬1.17
$2.30SEKΒ 21.46
-40.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13β¬0.97
$1.49SEKΒ 13.94
-24.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.32β¬12.32
$7.08SEKΒ 66.0
102.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.22β¬6.21
$16.32SEKΒ 152
-55.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46β¬1.25
$1.86SEKΒ 17.37
-21.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67β¬2.30
$1.70SEKΒ 15.83
57.06%
π Getting Around
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48β¬2.99
$4.13SEKΒ 38.57
-15.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.2β¬64.7
$57.5SEKΒ 537
30.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68β¬3.16
$8.34SEKΒ 77.8
-55.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54β¬2.19
$2.01SEKΒ 18.80
26.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.59β¬22.87
$59.0SEKΒ 551
-54.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27β¬1.95
$1.89SEKΒ 17.63
20.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8Kβ¬34.2K
$32.9KSEKΒ 306.7K
21.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8Kβ¬34.3K
$33.6KSEKΒ 313.2K
18.66%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$296β¬254
$174SEKΒ 1,619
70.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.03β¬22.39
$31.92SEKΒ 298
-18.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.51β¬40.01
$28.36SEKΒ 265
64.00%
π Sport & Entertainment
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.94β¬40.38
$40.29SEKΒ 376
16.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.19β¬19.95
$25.55SEKΒ 238
-9.24%
Cinema Ticket
$15.92β¬13.69
$15.88SEKΒ 148
0.25%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,609β¬2,245
$148SEKΒ 1,380
1664.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2Kβ¬9,620
$4,153SEKΒ 38.8K
169.29%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115β¬98.5
$99.4SEKΒ 927
15.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7β¬52.2
$41.17SEKΒ 384
47.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108β¬92.6
$85.1SEKΒ 794
26.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130β¬112
$163SEKΒ 1,524
-20.25%
π Accommodation & Living
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888β¬1,624
$1,295SEKΒ 12.1K
45.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,521β¬1,308
$880SEKΒ 8,208
72.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,826β¬2,431
$1,760SEKΒ 16.4K
60.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,241β¬1,928
$1,408SEKΒ 13.1K
59.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,022β¬6,901
$3,771SEKΒ 35.2K
112.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,872β¬5,051
$3,201SEKΒ 29.9K
83.47%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Utrecht
Skelleftea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,615β¬3,970
$2,693SEKΒ 25.1K
71.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.39
4.5
-2.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Utrecht: May 30, 2026
Last update for Skelleftea: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,888 in Utrecht versus $1,295 in Skelleftea. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 71% higher in Utrecht, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $88.0 in Utrecht versus $69.0 in Skelleftea. Groceries tell a different story β $358 in Utrecht vs $385 in Skelleftea β so Utrecht wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Utrecht vs Skelleftea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skelleftea cheaper than Utrecht?
Yes β Utrecht is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,420 per month in Utrecht and $3,141 in Skelleftea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Skelleftea, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 31% less in Skelleftea. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,609 per month in Utrecht and $148 in Skelleftea. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Utrecht or Skelleftea?
$2,500 is a stretch for both β monthly costs hit $2,947 in Utrecht and $2,094 in Skelleftea. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Utrecht or Skelleftea more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Skelleftea β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Utrecht or Skelleftea?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Skelleftea. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Utrecht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.