🇸🇪 Stockholm vs 🇳🇱 Amsterdam
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Stockholm is 10% cheaper than Amsterdam
Quick answer
Comparing Stockholm, Sweden and Amsterdam, Netherlands: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $3,562 in Stockholm versus $3,975 in Amsterdam. Stockholm is roughly 10% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $1,612/mo (Stockholm) vs $2,350/mo (Amsterdam). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $3,562/mo in Stockholm single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $3,975/mo in Amsterdam single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $1,612/mo in Stockholm · $2,350/mo in Amsterdam.
- Cheaper overall: Stockholm ~10% cheaper than Amsterdam.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,500/mo | $2,800/mo | +12% |
| Moderate | $3,562/mo | $3,975/mo | +12% |
| Comfortable | $5,350/mo | $5,950/mo | +11% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $1,612/mo | $2,350/mo | +46% |
| Groceries & Food | $600/mo | $500/mo | -17% |
| Dining Out | $300/mo | $250/mo | -17% |
| Transport | $300/mo | $250/mo | -17% |
| Utilities & Internet | $300/mo | $250/mo | -17% |
| Healthcare | $240/mo | $200/mo | -17% |
| Leisure & Personal | $210/mo | $175/mo | -17% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: SCB (Statistics Sweden), Eurostat / CBS (Netherlands), Eurostat. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $3 | $2 | -36% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $2 | $1 | -25% |
| Eggs (12) | $4 | $3 | -20% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $11 | $9 | -20% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $2 | $2 | -8% |
| Apples (1 kg) | $3 | $3 | -7% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $3 | $3 | -15% |
| Cheese, local (1 kg) | $10 | $11 | +16% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch menu (business district) | $15 | $15 | -1% |
| Fast food combo meal | $10 | $10 | 0% |
| Cappuccino | $5 | $4 | -24% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $8 | $5 | -32% |
| Beer (0.5L, store) | $3 | $1 | -52% |
Housing
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center | $1,612 | $2,350 | +46% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,000 | $1,200 | +20% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $2,200 | $2,800 | +27% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $1,600 | $2,000 | +25% |
Transport
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit pass | $95 | $105 | +11% |
| Taxi start (normal tariff) | $5 | $3 | -30% |
| Taxi per km | $2 | $2 | +41% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $2 | $2 | +22% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $90 | $220 | +144% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $30 | $42 | +40% |
| Mobile plan (10GB+) | $24 | $16 | -33% |
Clothing
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair of jeans (Levi's) | $102 | $90 | -12% |
| Summer dress (Zara/H&M) | $43 | $95 | +121% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $53 | $38 | -28% |
| Cinema ticket | $15 | $14 | -7% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 🇳🇱 Amsterdam | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $38 | $25 | -34% |
Quick Facts
🇸🇪 Stockholm
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,562
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,612/mo
- Cappuccino
- $5.00
- Inexpensive meal
- $14.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $85
- Internet speed
- 180 Mbps
- Safety index
- 78/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 97/100
- Country
- Sweden
🇳🇱 Amsterdam
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,975
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,350/mo
- Cappuccino
- $3.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $15.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $100
- Internet speed
- 130 Mbps
- Safety index
- 75/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 92/100
- Country
- Netherlands
Explore more: Stockholm city guide | Amsterdam city guide | Sweden | Netherlands