Europe · Stockholm
Cost of living in Sweden
Sweden is 19% cheaper than the US, ranking #28 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2025 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Sweden, transport is the priciest category relative to the world (186), while food & groceries is the most affordable (138).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $80,500 in Sweden.
Quality of life
98/100 · #7 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Sweden
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in 2022. Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. Stockholm preserved an armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Sweden expensive to live in?
Sweden is 19% cheaper than the US, ranking #28 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is transport; food & groceries costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Sweden?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $80,500 in Sweden, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Sweden cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 80.7, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Sweden?
Sweden scores 98 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#7 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 84 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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