Is Stockholm Expensive?

Sweden · Northern Europe · Currency: SEK

64.3
COLI Index
#34
of 182 Cities
39.0%
Total Deductions
$1,500
1BR Rent/mo

About Stockholm

Stockholm has a cost of living index of 64.3, making it a moderate cost city compared to New York (baseline = 100). It ranks #34 out of 182 cities tracked globally.

The local currency is SEK. A salary of $75,000 USD in New York would need to be approximately kr 439,036 in Stockholm to maintain the same purchasing power.

The approximate effective income tax rate in Sweden is 32% for a mid-range earner. Including social security and other mandatory deductions, the total deduction rate is approximately 39.0%.

Monthly Cost Breakdown in Stockholm

Estimated monthly expense allocation for a mid-range earner living in Stockholm. Housing costs are based on average one-bedroom rent in the city center ($1,500/month), with other categories adjusted for the local cost of living index.

Housing
45%
Food & Groceries
15%
Transportation
8%
Utilities
6%
Healthcare
4%
Other & Savings
22%

Estimates based on a mid-range salary adjusted for Stockholm's COLI of 64.3 and Sweden's total deduction rate of 39.0%. Individual expenses will vary.

Tax & Deductions Breakdown in Stockholm

Estimated annual deductions for a mid-range salary of kr 439,036 in Stockholm. This shows all mandatory payroll deductions as a local employee.

Income Tax
32%
Employee Social Fees
7.0%
Total Deductions: 39.0%
Est. Take-Home: kr 267,812/yr

Rates shown are for a local employee. Expat rates may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.

Salary Ranges by Job Title in Stockholm (2026)

Estimated annual salaries in Stockholm (SEK) adjusted for cost of living. These figures represent local purchasing-power-adjusted ranges based on global baseline data.

Job Title Entry Level Mid Level Senior Level
Doctor (General) kr 468,305 kr 1,053,687 kr 2,048,836
Surgeon kr 702,458 kr 1,639,069 kr 2,926,909
Dentist kr 409,767 kr 936,611 kr 1,756,145
Pharmacist kr 351,229 kr 731,727 kr 1,170,764
Nurse kr 175,615 kr 339,521 kr 585,382
Psychologist kr 263,422 kr 497,575 kr 878,073
Software Engineer kr 263,422 kr 497,575 kr 1,053,687
DevOps Engineer kr 292,691 kr 556,113 kr 1,024,418
Data Scientist kr 292,691 kr 556,113 kr 995,149
Mechanical Engineer kr 234,153 kr 456,598 kr 819,534
Civil Engineer kr 222,445 kr 421,475 kr 790,265
Electrical Engineer kr 245,860 kr 468,305 kr 848,804
Architect kr 222,445 kr 421,475 kr 760,996
UX Designer kr 234,153 kr 439,036 kr 819,534
Product Manager kr 321,960 kr 585,382 kr 1,112,225
Project Manager kr 263,422 kr 468,305 kr 878,073
Financial Analyst kr 245,860 kr 456,598 kr 848,804
Accountant kr 204,884 kr 362,937 kr 643,920
Business Analyst kr 245,860 kr 439,036 kr 819,534
Consultant kr 263,422 kr 526,844 kr 1,053,687
Investment Banker kr 468,305 kr 878,073 kr 2,048,836
Actuary kr 351,229 kr 643,920 kr 1,170,764
Lawyer kr 292,691 kr 585,382 kr 1,287,840
Paralegal kr 175,615 kr 304,399 kr 497,575
Marketing Manager kr 222,445 kr 421,475 kr 790,265
Sales Manager kr 234,153 kr 468,305 kr 936,611
Graphic Designer kr 175,615 kr 321,960 kr 585,382
Content Writer kr 146,345 kr 292,691 kr 526,844
HR Manager kr 222,445 kr 409,767 kr 760,996
Operations Manager kr 263,422 kr 480,013 kr 878,073
CEO / Executive kr 585,382 kr 1,287,840 kr 2,926,909
Teacher kr 146,345 kr 280,983 kr 497,575
Professor kr 292,691 kr 556,113 kr 1,053,687
Research Scientist kr 263,422 kr 497,575 kr 907,342
Pilot kr 292,691 kr 702,458 kr 1,463,454
Chef kr 146,345 kr 292,691 kr 585,382
Journalist kr 146,345 kr 304,399 kr 556,113

Salary ranges are estimates adjusted by Stockholm's COLI (64.3) relative to the New York baseline (100). Actual salaries depend on experience, company, and industry.

How Much Do You Need to Earn in Stockholm?

Understanding your take-home pay is critical when evaluating a move to Stockholm. With total deductions of approximately 39.0% (income tax + social security) in Sweden and average one-bedroom rent of $1,500/month, here is what a mid-range salary looks like:

kr 439,036
Gross Annual (Mid-Range)
kr 22,318
Monthly Take-Home

After taxes, a mid-range earner in Stockholm takes home approximately kr 22,318 per month. With housing consuming roughly 45% of after-tax income, careful budgeting is essential in this moderate cost city. Your purchasing power in Stockholm is 156% of what it would be in New York for the same nominal salary.

Neighborhoods in Stockholm

24 neighborhoods tracked with cost multipliers relative to the city average. This neighborhood-level data helps you understand exactly how costs vary within Stockholm.

NeighborhoodMultipliervs City Avg
Östermalm 1.32x +32%
Norrmalm 1.22x +22%
Gamla Stan 1.20x +20%
Djurgården 1.18x +18%
Södermalm 1.15x +15%
Danderyd 1.15x +15%
Vasastan 1.12x +12%
Kungsholmen 1.10x +10%
Lidingö 1.08x +8%
Hammarby Sjöstad 1.05x +5%
Liljeholmen 1.02x +2%
Bromma 0.95x -5%
Täby 0.95x -5%
Nacka 0.92x -8%
Solna 0.90x -10%
Hägersten 0.88x -12%
Sundbyberg 0.88x -12%
Enskede 0.82x -18%
Kista 0.80x -20%
Bandhagen 0.78x -22%
Huddinge 0.78x -22%
Farsta 0.75x -25%
Skärholmen 0.72x -28%
Vallentuna 0.72x -28%

Sponsored

Moving to Stockholm?

Open a multi-currency account to manage SEK and your home currency. No hidden fees, real exchange rate.

Open a Wise Account →

Salary Comparison: Stockholm vs Other Cities

To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 USD in Stockholm, here's what you'd need in other cities:

City COLI Equivalent Salary Difference
New York 100 $116,641 +36%
London 87.5 £76,853 +27%
Singapore 87.7 S$133,259 +27%
Dubai 72.4 AED 305,933 +11%
Berlin 51.2 €50,636 -20%
Tokyo 77.3 ¥13,967,164 +17%
Sydney 74.5 A$123,475 +14%
Toronto 62.3 C$98,385 -3%

Compare Stockholm With Other Cities

See detailed side-by-side comparisons of salaries, rent, taxes, and neighborhoods.

Stockholm vs Abu Dhabi Stockholm vs Amsterdam Stockholm vs Athens Stockholm vs Atlanta Stockholm vs Auckland Stockholm vs Austin Stockholm vs Bali (Denpasar) Stockholm vs Bangalore Stockholm vs Bangkok Stockholm vs Barcelona Stockholm vs Beijing Stockholm vs Berlin Stockholm vs Bogotá Stockholm vs Boston Stockholm vs Brussels Stockholm vs Bucharest Stockholm vs Budapest Stockholm vs Buenos Aires Stockholm vs Cairo Stockholm vs Cancún Stockholm vs Cape Town Stockholm vs Casablanca Stockholm vs Charlotte Stockholm vs Chennai Stockholm vs Chiang Mai Stockholm vs Chicago Stockholm vs Copenhagen Stockholm vs Dallas Stockholm vs Delhi Stockholm vs Denver Stockholm vs Doha Stockholm vs Dubai Stockholm vs Dublin Stockholm vs Edinburgh Stockholm vs Fukuoka Stockholm vs Geneva Stockholm vs Guangzhou Stockholm vs Hanoi Stockholm vs Helsinki Stockholm vs Ho Chi Minh City Stockholm vs Hong Kong Stockholm vs Houston Stockholm vs Istanbul Stockholm vs Jakarta Stockholm vs Krakow Stockholm vs Kuala Lumpur Stockholm vs Lagos Stockholm vs Las Vegas Stockholm vs Lima Stockholm vs Lisbon Stockholm vs London Stockholm vs Los Angeles Stockholm vs Luxembourg City Stockholm vs Madrid Stockholm vs Manila Stockholm vs Marrakech Stockholm vs Medellín Stockholm vs Melbourne Stockholm vs Mexico City Stockholm vs Miami Stockholm vs Milan Stockholm vs Minneapolis Stockholm vs Montevideo Stockholm vs Montreal Stockholm vs Mumbai Stockholm vs Munich Stockholm vs Málaga Stockholm vs Nairobi Stockholm vs Nashville Stockholm vs New York Stockholm vs Nice Stockholm vs Osaka Stockholm vs Oslo Stockholm vs Panama City Stockholm vs Paris Stockholm vs Perth Stockholm vs Philadelphia Stockholm vs Phnom Penh Stockholm vs Phoenix Stockholm vs Phuket Stockholm vs Playa del Carmen Stockholm vs Portland Stockholm vs Porto Stockholm vs Prague Stockholm vs Raleigh Stockholm vs Riga Stockholm vs Riyadh Stockholm vs Rome Stockholm vs San Diego Stockholm vs San Francisco Stockholm vs San José (CR) Stockholm vs Santiago Stockholm vs Seattle Stockholm vs Seoul Stockholm vs Shanghai Stockholm vs Shenzhen Stockholm vs Singapore Stockholm vs Split Stockholm vs Sydney Stockholm vs São Paulo Stockholm vs Taipei Stockholm vs Tallinn Stockholm vs Tampa Stockholm vs Tel Aviv Stockholm vs Tokyo Stockholm vs Toronto Stockholm vs Valencia Stockholm vs Vancouver Stockholm vs Vienna Stockholm vs Warsaw Stockholm vs Washington DC Stockholm vs Zurich

Calculate Your Exact Salary

Use our free converter tool with 3,400+ neighborhood adjustments

Open Salary Converter

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living index for Stockholm?

The cost of living index (COLI) for Stockholm is 64.3, which ranks #34 out of 182 cities globally. New York is the baseline at 100.

How much salary do I need in Stockholm to match $75,000 in New York?

To maintain the same purchasing power as $75,000 USD in New York, you would need approximately kr 439,036 in Stockholm.

What is the average rent in Stockholm?

The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Stockholm is approximately $1,500 USD.

What are the total payroll deductions in Sweden?

The approximate effective income tax rate for a mid-range earner in Sweden is approximately 32%. Including social security and other mandatory contributions, total deductions are approximately 39.0%.

What are the cheapest neighborhoods in Stockholm?

The most affordable neighborhoods include Farsta, Skärholmen, Vallentuna.

What are the most expensive areas in Stockholm?

The most expensive neighborhoods are Östermalm, Norrmalm, Gamla Stan.

Data Sources & Methodology

Our cost of living index (COLI) uses New York City as the baseline (COLI = 100). Indices are derived from multiple sources including Numbeo, Expatistan, and national statistics agencies. Exchange rates are sourced from the European Central Bank.

Tax rates represent approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages data and do not constitute tax advice. Neighborhood cost multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data. Salary ranges are modeled by adjusting global baseline figures by each city's COLI.

Last updated: 2026-02-25. Data is refreshed periodically and may not reflect very recent changes. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.

Explore Similar Cities

Other cities in Northern Europe:

Related Articles

How Cost of Living Affects Your Salary Salary Negotiation When Relocating Abroad