Cost of living comparison
Sweden is 11.0% cheaper than Iowa.
- Restaurants
-
pay 4.1% less in Sweden
- Groceries
-
pay 7.6% less in Sweden
- Transportation
-
pay 50.2% more in Sweden
- Housing
-
pay 37.6% less in Sweden
- Childcare
-
pay 85.9% less in Sweden
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 8.8% less in Sweden
- Clothing
-
pay 16.8% more in Sweden
The cost of transportation and clothing in Sweden are more expensive than in Iowa. Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, and restaurants are lower in Sweden.
If you lived in Sweden instead of Iowa, you would:
pay 4.1% less for restaurants
|
Iowa
|
Sweden
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$15.50
|
$11.92
SEK119.19
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.86
|
$9.45
SEK94.55
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.25
|
$2.04
SEK20.42
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.61
|
$1.93
SEK19.28
|
|
pay 7.6% less for groceries
|
Iowa
|
Sweden
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.75
|
$2.49
SEK24.86
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.26
|
$5.18
SEK51.85
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.55
|
$5.43
SEK54.35
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97
|
$3.74
SEK37.40
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.90
|
$4.68
SEK46.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.27
|
$1.19
SEK11.91
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$1.06
SEK10.56
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.31
|
$1.13
SEK11.35
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$1.73
SEK17.30
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
|
$0.67
SEK6.74
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.32
|
$0.70
SEK7.02
|
|
pay 50.2% more for transportation
|
Iowa
|
Sweden
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.26
|
$6.64
SEK66.36
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$41.60
|
$68.10
SEK681.10
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,209.92
|
$26,850.74
SEK268,531.53
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.53
|
$21.47
SEK214.67
|
|
pay 37.6% less for housing
|
Iowa
|
Sweden
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.83
|
$30.29
SEK302.90
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,149.79
|
$821.73
SEK8,218.01
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$848.38
|
$641.62
SEK6,416.79
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$132.52
|
$77.37
SEK773.80
|
|
pay 85.9% less for childcare
|
Iowa
|
Sweden
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,043.98
|
$122.27
SEK1,222.86
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$19,039.50
|
$3,135.75
SEK31,360.30
|
|
pay 8.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
Iowa
|
Sweden
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.95
|
$6.64
SEK66.43
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.14
|
$3.78
SEK37.85
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.68
|
$6.41
SEK64.09
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.12
|
$38.70
SEK387.02
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.83
|
$14.24
SEK142.38
|
|
pay 16.8% more for clothing
|
Iowa
|
Sweden
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.44
|
$79.10
SEK791.04
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.50
|
$35.56
SEK355.63
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.35
|
$84.42
SEK844.30
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$105.02
|
$125.14
SEK1,251.51
|
|
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