Cost of Living in Sweden - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Sweden
Address: SE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $1,826 per month with rent on average across Sweden.

A couple spends around $2,827 per month with rent on average across Sweden.

A family of three spends around $3,828 per month with rent on average across Sweden.

Across 73 cities in Sweden, monthly living costs range from $1,453 to $2,505 – a $1,052 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.55 SEK 138

$10.39 SEK 98.3

$20.78 SEK 197

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.6 SEK 810

$64.2 SEK 607

$160 SEK 1,518

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.39 SEK 108

$10.11 SEK 95.6

$12.77 SEK 121

Cappuccino

$4.71 SEK 44.54

$2.60 SEK 24.60

$6.76 SEK 63.9

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 SEK 27.36

$1.74 SEK 16.45

$4.34 SEK 41.09

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 SEK 22.02

$1.57 SEK 14.87

$3.14 SEK 29.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.95 SEK 75.2

$5.30 SEK 50.1

$10.07 SEK 95.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.96 SEK 75.3

$6.26 SEK 59.2

$10.09 SEK 95.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SEK 16.17

$1.28 SEK 12.15

$2.24 SEK 21.15

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 SEK 29.53

$1.89 SEK 17.91

$4.65 SEK 43.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.73 SEK 35.26

$2.10 SEK 19.84

$5.14 SEK 48.62

Eggs

$4.37 SEK 41.32

$2.92 SEK 27.64

$5.65 SEK 53.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.24 SEK 116

$8.58 SEK 81.2

$20.27 SEK 192

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.47 SEK 118

$7.99 SEK 75.6

$18.00 SEK 170

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.26 SEK 182

$10.75 SEK 102

$32.23 SEK 305

Apples (1kg)

$3.15 SEK 29.79

$1.66 SEK 15.69

$4.14 SEK 39.17

Banana (1kg)

$2.72 SEK 25.71

$2.08 SEK 19.66

$3.63 SEK 34.38

Oranges (1kg)

$3.07 SEK 29.06

$2.04 SEK 19.31

$4.10 SEK 38.81

Tomato (1kg)

$4.53 SEK 42.82

$2.13 SEK 20.17

$6.39 SEK 60.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.76 SEK 16.67

$1.03 SEK 9.78

$2.60 SEK 24.59

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 SEK 16.72

$1.26 SEK 11.93

$2.62 SEK 24.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 SEK 22.10

$1.54 SEK 14.61

$4.11 SEK 38.92

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 SEK 13.77

$0.93 SEK 8.84

$2.60 SEK 24.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.87 SEK 74.5

$7.14 SEK 67.5

$8.71 SEK 82.4

Wine (Bottle)

$11.80 SEK 112

$8.59 SEK 81.3

$21.36 SEK 202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 SEK 19.47

$1.56 SEK 14.72

$3.11 SEK 29.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 SEK 21.39

$1.61 SEK 15.22

$3.22 SEK 30.45

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.73 SEK 35.33

$3.11 SEK 29.38

$4.46 SEK 42.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$90.9 SEK 860

$66.1 SEK 625

$112 SEK 1,060

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 SEK 58.9

$5.19 SEK 49.07

$10.38 SEK 98.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 SEK 17.32

$1.22 SEK 11.55

$4.57 SEK 43.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$62.9 SEK 595

$46.10 SEK 436

$83.8 SEK 793

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 SEK 19.09

$1.84 SEK 17.43

$2.28 SEK 21.52

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.2K SEK 314.1K

$32.2K SEK 305.0K

$35.5K SEK 335.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.0K SEK 331.5K

$34.9K SEK 330.6K

$37.7K SEK 356.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$126 SEK 1,193

$66.1 SEK 626

$271 SEK 2,566

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.71 SEK 272

$15.69 SEK 148

$41.84 SEK 396

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.37 SEK 363

$26.12 SEK 247

$52.2 SEK 494

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.25 SEK 400

$26.71 SEK 253

$64.1 SEK 606

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.41 SEK 259

$19.93 SEK 189

$36.72 SEK 347

Cinema Ticket

$16.92 SEK 160

$14.70 SEK 139

$23.26 SEK 220

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$155 SEK 1,468

$127 SEK 1,204

$186 SEK 1,756

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,620 SEK 24.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.7 SEK 877

$41.70 SEK 394

$125 SEK 1,183

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.34 SEK 401

$21.45 SEK 203

$64.4 SEK 609

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 SEK 979

$63.5 SEK 600

$159 SEK 1,501

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 SEK 1,404

$74.3 SEK 703

$212 SEK 2,009

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 SEK 8,932

$635 SEK 6,002

$1,596 SEK 15.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 SEK 7,002

$526 SEK 4,977

$1,263 SEK 11.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 SEK 14.9K

$1,153 SEK 10.9K

$2,767 SEK 26.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,212 SEK 11.5K

$847 SEK 8,011

$2,117 SEK 20.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,503 SEK 52.1K

$3,236 SEK 30.6K

$12.1K SEK 114.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,605 SEK 34.1K

$2,338 SEK 22.1K

$7,642 SEK 72.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,258 SEK 30.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.52

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $870 nationally. In Stockholm, expect around $1,589, while Boden – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $959.

The average net salary across Sweden is $3,091 – comfortably above average monthly costs of $1,826. Most full-time workers can cover expenses and save.

Groceries average around $361 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $77.0.

Most affordable: Boden at $1,453 per month. The capital, Stockholm, sits at $2,505. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $1,052 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($1,826) is 36% above the global median of $1,340.

Average rent ($870) is 39% above the global median of $627.

Dining out ($77.0) is 60% above the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($77.0) is 133% above the global median of $33.00.

By City in Sweden

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Akersberga	32659	92	$1,239	$1,805	$2,396	$3,850	174.54	192.8
2	Almhult	18039	92	$939	$1,812	$2,729	$3,907	98.13	148.34
3	Åtvidaberg	11473	88	$1,099	$1,773	$2,387	$3,627	258.16	129.98
4	Bålsta	13138	81	$950	$1,640	$2,034	$3,359	77.9	216.37
5	Boden	18680	74	$1,072	$1,453	$2,618	$3,143	38.62	147.8
6	Boras	66273	99	$1,034	$1,947	$2,487	$3,586	20.95	210.16
7	Botkyrka	95238	90	$1,043	$1,799	$2,316	$3,815	71	272.27
8	Bromölla	12628	91	$1,052	$1,777	$2,624	$3,842	94.18	156.7
9	Eskilstuna	-	86	$1,019	$1,722	$2,331	$3,615	45.45	213.34
10	Eslov	17748	90	$881	$1,795	$2,979	$3,843	64.05	223.07
11	Fagersta	13362	91	$1,033	$1,807	$2,472	$3,772	27.63	233.49
12	Falköping	16350	91	$1,111	$1,778	$2,651	$3,729	82.2	197.19
13	Falun	39492	107	$1,175	$2,142	$2,584	$4,328	229.61	175.31
14	Gavle	100000	101	$1,099	$1,996	$2,878	$3,931	130.83	244.2
15	Gothenburg	607882	105	$1,029	$2,058	$2,930	$4,328	31.17	257.68
16	Hagfors	11581	93	$1,089	$1,864	$2,340	$3,937	32.19	144.46
17	Halmstad	55688	87	$963	$1,706	$2,638	$3,660	79.47	147.57
18	Haparanda	4800	91	$932	$1,816	$2,289	$3,813	201.38	206.4
19	Härnösand	24689	91	$1,142	$1,832	$2,206	$3,763	289.91	221.15
20	Hässleholm	18500	87	$1,160	$1,771	$2,397	$3,824	106.01	202.63
21	Helsingborg	93838	89	$1,041	$1,792	$2,281	$3,765	82.54	210.88
22	Höllviken	10607	89	$944	$1,770	$2,651	$3,743	176.31	234.19
23	Hultsfred	14090	88	$1,036	$1,745	$2,114	$3,657	324.16	137.29
24	Jonkoping	84423	91	$1,095	$1,817	$2,839	$3,902	194.83	176.4
25	Kalix	15734	90	$1,014	$1,812	$2,834	$3,768	108.59	209.94
26	Kalmar	35170	95	$1,106	$1,862	$2,274	$3,740	116.04	234.75
27	Karlskrona	35212	88	$900	$1,768	$2,841	$3,535	50.96	166.24
28	Karlstad	62797	89	$1,051	$1,742	$2,989	$3,663	204.06	190.09
29	Kiruna	22454	97	$1,261	$1,926	$3,106	$4,272	54.3	145.55
30	Kista	-	91	$1,027	$1,804	$2,401	$3,723	46.34	270.93
31	Köping	17743	86	$851	$1,735	$2,370	$3,552	101.22	159.22
32	Kristianstad	35711	92	$1,082	$1,801	$2,271	$3,806	192.01	175.7
33	Landskrona	30499	90	$877	$1,772	$2,573	$3,580	33.35	183.96
34	Lidingo	48541	92	$1,027	$1,831	$2,257	$3,702	147.61	245.06
35	Lindesberg	9600	92	$1,117	$1,823	$2,576	$4,042	284.24	156.54
36	Linkoping	115682	91	$926	$1,792	$2,838	$3,932	48.4	214.57
37	Ljungby	28404	89	$1,040	$1,761	$2,459	$3,789	126.95	129.01
38	Ludvika	26343	80	$1,034	$1,597	$2,773	$3,721	231.19	194.85
39	Lulea	73864	95	$1,167	$1,885	$2,805	$4,161	43.09	156.52
40	Lund	82800	97	$1,044	$1,949	$2,248	$4,117	49.52	237.81
41	Malmo	316588	104	$1,216	$2,047	$2,707	$4,292	211.82	262.9
42	Marsta	24068	89	$1,103	$1,773	$2,844	$3,736	53	227.44
43	Mölndal	60000	84	$894	$1,666	$2,747	$3,621	136.05	249.84
44	Mora	10896	97	$947	$1,949	$2,781	$4,155	307.94	102.11
45	Norrkoping	98088	89	$927	$1,806	$2,809	$3,631	95.54	219.39
46	Nyköping	29891	87	$945	$1,728	$2,443	$3,601	256.7	181.24
47	Orebro	98237	84	$1,130	$1,683	$2,553	$3,834	259.23	222.23
48	Ornskoldsvik	32953	91	$1,061	$1,829	$2,717	$3,776	165.81	102.3
49	Ostersund	44000	92	$957	$1,802	$2,468	$3,892	62.51	225.53
50	Sala	22994	75	$985	$1,476	$2,234	$2,979	26.66	189.5

Sweden Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Sweden - Frequently Asked Questions

Sweden offers high-quality public services and safety, which can balance higher costs with reliable infrastructure. In general terms, Cost of Living in Sweden tends to reward you if you plan for longer stays and can share housing or opt for longer-term rentals. Cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg offer vibrant work cultures and excellent transit, while smaller towns provide quieter options with lower price pressure. Budget-minded travelers can still stretch a budget by leveraging libraries, free museum days, and seasonal discounts. Tip: Look for neighborhoods near transit hubs or universities to optimize access and price while maintaining life quality.

Daily life blends efficiency with a respect for privacy and nature. Your housing search will involve balancing size, location, and rental terms; outside major cities you may find more space for similar budgets. Food options range from seasonal markets to reliable supermarkets; cooking at home helps you manage costs, while occasional dining out supports local cafes. Transport is straightforward: robust public transit, bike-friendly streets, and commuter trains connect regions. Run errands by clustering trips to save time and travel costs. Sweden living cost varies by city, season, and neighborhood, so tailor routines to your location. Tip: Use seasonality to buy produce when it’s best value and plan ahead for housing and transit needs.

Quality of life hinges on balance: you can enjoy clean systems, safety, and nature by budgeting around core costs. Use a simple framework: fixed costs (housing, utilities) versus flexible spending (eating out, entertainment). In winter, heating needs can reshape monthly plans, so seek well-insulated homes and efficient heat sources. Neighborhood fit matters: central districts offer culture and quick transit but higher rents, while suburbs or university towns often provide more space and value with reliable services. Seasonal activities and markets can keep life affordable and engaging. Tip: track your essential expenses for a few months to spot savings and refine your location choice.

Sweden falls in the middle globally – not a bargain destination, not an expensive one. Costs vary a lot by region, which means it works for a wide range of incomes and lifestyles depending on where you settle.

In 2026, monthly costs in Sweden range from $1,453 in smaller cities to $2,505 in major hubs. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.

Rent in Sweden varies a lot – Stockholm has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.

In regional cities, $2,000 is plenty. In Stockholm? You'll need to plan carefully, especially around housing. Shared apartments or outer neighborhoods are the usual workarounds.

Sweden is mid-range globally, with more affordable cities starting around $1,453 per month. Not the cheapest option out there, but far from the most expensive – a reasonable balance of cost and quality of life.