Cost of Living in Sweden
Below-average cost of living at 44.0 vs NYC's 100. Good value for remote workers and retirees. Data refreshed April 2026.
Monthly Budget in Sweden
All prices in USD. Single-person urban lifestyle. Sourced from Numbeo 2026 country rankings.
Minimal
Suburb rent, home-cooked meals, no dining out
Sample
City rent, ~15 restaurant meals/mo, full utilities
Comfortable
City rent, dining out 25×/mo, extras
Line-item breakdown (single person)
Rent 1-bedroom, city centre | $1,050 |
Rent 1-bedroom, outside centre | $825 |
Groceries (monthly basket) | $295 |
Mid-range restaurant meal (per person) | $15 |
Public transit pass (monthly) | $90 |
Basic utilities (85m² apartment) | $105 |
How Much Salary Do I Need in Sweden?
Purchasing-power-adjusted equivalents: if you earn X in the US, you’d need roughly Y in Sweden to maintain the same lifestyle.
| US net salary | Equivalent in Sweden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000/yr | $39,076 | 22% cheaper |
| $75,000/yr | $58,615 | 22% cheaper |
| $100,000/yr | $78,153 | 22% cheaper |
These are NET (after-tax) purchasing-power equivalents. Your gross salary target will differ based on Sweden's tax regime — see our salary comparison pages for full tax-adjusted numbers.
How Does Sweden Compare to Other Countries?
Sweden vs major reference countries. Lower COL+Rent = cheaper.
Related Tools for Sweden
Combine cost of living with salary and tax data for the full picture.
Salary After Tax in Sweden
See net take-home pay in SEK using 2025 tax brackets.
United States vs Sweden salary
Side-by-side take-home pay + cost-of-living overlay.
United Kingdom vs Sweden salary
Side-by-side take-home pay + cost-of-living overlay.
Canada vs Sweden salary
Side-by-side take-home pay + cost-of-living overlay.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sweden Cost of Living
How much does it cost to live in Sweden per month?
A single-person moderate urban lifestyle in Sweden costs roughly $1,765/month: rent $1,050 (city) or $825 (outside city), groceries $295, utilities $105, transit pass $90, and ~15 mid-range restaurant meals at $15 each. A minimal budget is around $1,315, while a comfortable lifestyle runs ~$1,999.
Is Sweden expensive to live in?
Sweden sits at 44.0 on the combined Cost of Living + Rent Index (NYC = 100), making it affordable by global standards. Below-average cost of living at 44.0 vs NYC's 100. Good value for remote workers and retirees.
How much salary do I need to live comfortably in Sweden?
To cover a comfortable lifestyle in Sweden (~$1,999/month), you need roughly $23,991 in net annual income. Add 20–25% for income tax and social security in most jurisdictions, so a gross salary of around $31,188 to $35,987 should be comfortable depending on the tax regime.
What is the average rent in Sweden?
A 1-bedroom apartment in a city centre in Sweden averages $1,050/month. Outside the city centre, the same apartment averages $825/month — a 21% savings for moving just outside the core. Shared housing and suburb-commuter lifestyles can reduce rent further.
How does Sweden's cost of living compare to the US?
Sweden is 22% cheaper than the United States overall. A $70,000 US net salary would only need to be approximately $54,707 in Sweden to match purchasing power.