Cost of living comparison

 Massachusetts, USA
compared to
 Sweden
Sweden vs. Massachusetts Cost of Living Summary

Sweden is 26.2% cheaper than Massachusetts.

Restaurants
pay 20.6% less in Sweden
Groceries
pay 25.0% less in Sweden
Transportation
pay 21.8% more in Sweden
Housing
pay 56.9% less in Sweden
Childcare
pay 90.9% less in Sweden
Entertainment and Sports
pay 24.7% less in Sweden
Clothing
pay 12.8% more in Sweden

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

Sweden vs. Massachusetts Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Sweden instead of Massachusetts, you would:

pay 20.6% less for restaurants

 
Massachusetts
Sweden
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $21.19
 
$11.92
SEK116.54
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.79
 
$9.45
SEK92.45
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.62
 
$2.04
SEK19.96

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pay 25.0% less for groceries

 
Massachusetts
Sweden
Bread
1 loaf
$3.71
 
$2.49
SEK24.31
Local cheese (8 oz) $7.31
 
$5.18
SEK50.70
Milk (1 gallon) $4.52
 
$5.43
SEK53.14

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pay 21.8% more for transportation

 
Massachusetts
Sweden
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.51
 
$6.64
SEK64.89
Monthly public transit pass $71.71
 
$68.10
SEK665.96
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $33,785.54
 
$26,850.74
SEK262,562.62

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pay 56.9% less for housing

 
Massachusetts
Sweden
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$68.08
 
$30.29
SEK296.17
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $2,074.76
 
$821.73
SEK8,035.34
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,940.55
 
$641.62
SEK6,274.16

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pay 90.9% less for childcare

 
Massachusetts
Sweden
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,960.62
 
$122.27
SEK1,195.68
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $26,428.57
 
$3,135.75
SEK30,663.23

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pay 24.7% less for entertainment and sports

 
Massachusetts
Sweden
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.63
 
$6.64
SEK64.95
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.00
 
$3.78
SEK37.01
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$12.10
 
$6.41
SEK62.66

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pay 12.8% more for clothing

 
Massachusetts
Sweden
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$50.62
 
$79.10
SEK773.45
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$41.05
 
$35.56
SEK347.73
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$83.58
 
$84.42
SEK825.53

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: May 2025
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