Cost of living comparison

compared to

United States vs. Sweden Cost of Living Summary

United States is 38.3% more expensive than Sweden overall.

Restaurants
pay 20.0% more in United States
Groceries
pay 19.7% more in United States
Transportation
pay 19.7% less in United States
Housing
pay 92.5% more in United States
Childcare
pay 5.6 times more in United States
Entertainment and Sports
pay 5.3% more in United States
Clothing
pay 20.9% less in United States

The cost of childcare, housing, restaurants, groceries, and entertainment and sports in United States are more expensive than in Sweden. Expenses including clothing and transportation are lower in United States. Notably, childcare and housing are significantly more expensive in United States.

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United States vs. Sweden Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United States instead of Sweden, you would:

pay 20.0% more for restaurants

 
Sweden
United States
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $14.04
SEK138.90
$19.86
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
 $10.77
SEK106.52
$11.42
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.49
SEK24.64
$2.67
 
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pay 19.7% more for groceries

 
Sweden
United States
Bread
1 loaf
 $2.82
SEK27.91
$3.63
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.72
SEK56.63
$6.52
 
Milk (1 gallon) $6.07
SEK60.06
$3.98
 
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pay 19.7% less for transportation

 
Sweden
United States
Gasoline (1 gallon) $6.65
SEK65.75
$4.01
 
Monthly public transit pass $77.78
SEK769.57
$66.70
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $31,975.58
SEK316K
$34,164.82
 
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pay 92.5% more for housing

 
Sweden
United States
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
 $38.16
SEK377.57
$70.22
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $883.11
SEK8,737.90
$1,681.01
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $671.43
SEK6,643.43
$1,404.28
 
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pay 5.6 times more for childcare

 
Sweden
United States
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $155.03
SEK1,533.97
$1,450.99
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $7,341.74
SEK72,642.89
$24,361.50
 
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pay 5.3% more for entertainment and sports

 
Sweden
United States
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $7.36
SEK72.85
$6.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.45
SEK44.00
$5.31
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
 $7.55
SEK74.66
$10.42
 
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pay 20.9% less for clothing

 
Sweden
United States
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
 $91.37
SEK904.10
$53.15
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
 $44.99
SEK445.11
$41.88
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
 $95.04
SEK940.34
$89.76
 
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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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