Cost #23/31 · Cost of living · Europe · Eurostat PLI 2024
🇸🇪 Cost of living in Sweden
Sweden runs pricier than most of the EU-27 across rent, groceries and transport - see where the gap is widest and how far local income actually stretches.
- Cost rank · cheapest = #1 of 31
- #23
- Affordability rank · highest purchasing power = #1 of 29
- #13
Sweden's livability score
Livability score
39/100
Sweden, weighted across 8 of 8 tracked dimensions
A cost-and-income composite (price-level indices plus purchasing power), not an overall quality-of-life judgment, it does not weigh climate, safety, culture, or healthcare outcomes.
- Purchasing power C €28,574
Median net income adjusted for local cost level
- Overall cost F 123
Eurostat overall price level (EU27=100)
- Rent F 112
Housing / rent price level (EU27=100)
- Groceries D 106
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (EU27=100)
- Healthcare F 156
Healthcare price level (EU27=100)
- Transport F 111
Transport price level (EU27=100)
- Utilities F 97
Electricity / gas / water (EU27=100)
- Restaurants F 117
Restaurants and hotels (EU27=100)
Sweden: mid-pack 2024 Eurostat shift
Overall cost index changed +0.8 vs 2023 - a typical mid-pack European delta.
- Utilities index 93 97 2023 → 2024
Utilities index rose from 93 to 97 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Transport index 114 111 2023 → 2024
Transport index fell from 114 to 111 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Housing & utilities index 109 112 2023 → 2024
Housing & utilities index rose from 109 to 112 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
- Overall cost index 122 123 2023 → 2024
Overall cost index rose from 122 to 123 between the 2023 and 2024 Eurostat releases.
Sweden in the 120+ cost band
On the EU-27 = 100 scale, Sweden's overall index (123) sits in the 120+ band with 9 other published countries. The Europe-wide band mix lives on the rankings hub, not repeated here.
Where Sweden's high price level concentrates
Bars + gauge for an above-EU overall index (123): which categories drive the premium, not a restated Europe lecture.
Sweden - price level by category (EU-27 = 100)
🇸🇪 Sweden vs EU-27 = 100
Gauge reads the same overall cost_index (123); the tick marks the EU average.
In Sweden, healthcare is the most expensive category and utilities the least.
Why Sweden reads expensive on Eurostat
Sweden's overall consumer price level is 23% above the EU-27 average. (How this index is built →)
Healthcare is the priciest category in Sweden, at index 156, ahead of utilities at index 97 relative to the EU basket.
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €28,574 is worth closer to €23,231 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
Cities in Sweden
National averages hide the big-city premium. See real monthly rent, groceries and transit costs for Sweden's cities.
Eurostat PLI Basket · similar price levels and purchasing power
Two peer sets for Sweden: nearest overall price-level indices (EU-27 = 100) and nearest cost-adjusted incomes (median net income ÷ cost index). The cost band block above stays cohort-based; these neighborhoods vary by entity.
Similar overall cost index
Nearest countries by Eurostat price level (123 here, EU-27 = 100).
PLI neighbourhood · Sweden
Similar purchasing power
Nearest countries by cost-adjusted income (€23,231 here).
What to do with this Sweden data
Sweden ranks #13 of 29 for cost-adjusted purchasing power. A raw price index alone does not tell you whether income stretches further here than elsewhere.
- Run the numbers for Sweden in the calculator
- Compare Sweden vs Netherlands side by side
- See the full best-value ranking
- Browse every country we track
These are Eurostat comparative price-level averages for the whole country, not a personal budget. Regional and city-level costs can differ substantially from the national figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sweden expensive to live in?
Sweden's overall cost of living is 23% above the EU-27 average (index 123). Healthcare is the priciest category and utilities the cheapest.
What are housing & utilities costs in Sweden?
Sweden's housing & utilities price index is 112, above the EU norm.
How does income compare to costs in Sweden?
That price gap trims real purchasing power here: because prices run above the EU average, the headline income of €28,574 is worth closer to €23,231 once translated into EU-27-average terms.
PlainCostOfLiving is rendered directly from Eurostat comparative price levels and median equivalised net income, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-20. Primary sources: Eurostat comparative price levels (prc_ppp_ind) and Eurostat median equivalised net income (ilc_di03).