Cost of Living in Stockholm
Sweden
Comfortable budget (single)
$3,800/month
Range $2,400–$3,800/month
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Stockholm?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Stockholm for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$8.5
pint at pub
Lunch
$20
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$475
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$105
monthly pass
Gym
$50
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $1,800–$2,800 | ↑ +14% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $950–$1,500 | ↑ +14% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $75–$145 | ↑ +13% |
| Internet & Mobile | $30–$50 | ↑ +14% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $380–$570 | ↑ +14% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $50–$90 | ↑ +13% |
| Coffee | $4–$6 | ↑ +25% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $95–$115 | ↑ +14% |
| Gym membership | $35–$65 | ↑ +14% |
| Cinema ticket | $14–$18 | ↑ +14% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Stockholm — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$1,800–$2,800/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$14,660
Buy outside (per m²)
$8,060
Price-to-rent ratio
24×
Avg mortgage rate
4.2%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Stockholm center at ~$14,660/m² with a 25y loan at 4.2% would cost roughly $4,741/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Stockholm. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $2,900 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $3,800 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $3,300 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $2,750 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $2,850 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Stockholm.
Utilize the SL app or an SL Access card for seamless travel across Stockholm's extensive public transport network, covering buses, trams, and the metro.
Shop at budget supermarkets like Lidl or Willy:s for groceries to significantly reduce your weekly food expenses compared to more premium stores like ICA or Coop.
Explore housing options in areas just outside the city center, such as Solna or Sundbyberg, which offer more affordable rent with excellent public transport connections.
Budget scenarios
Single
$2,400–$3,800/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,800/mo
- Groceries: ~$570/mo
- Transport: ~$115/mo
Couple
$3,800–$5,800/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,800/mo
- Groceries: ~$570/mo
- Transport: ~$115/mo
Family
$5,500–$8,500/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$2,800/mo
- Groceries: ~$570/mo
- Transport: ~$115/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Stockholm Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $2,250–$3,500/mo
Stockholm Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,980–$3,080/mo
Stockholm Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,440–$2,240/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Innovation
- • Nature
- • English proficiency
❌ Cons
- • Dark winters
- • Housing queue
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.