Cost of living comparison
California is 2.9 times more expensive than Sweden overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 35.8% more in California
- Groceries
-
pay 47.7% more in California
- Transportation
-
pay 7.8% less in California
- Housing
-
pay 2.6 times more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 11.8 times more in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 37.9% more in California
- Clothing
-
pay 6.4% less in California
The cost of childcare, housing, groceries, entertainment and sports, and restaurants in California are more expensive than in Sweden. Expenses including transportation and clothing are lower in California. Notably, childcare and housing are significantly more expensive in California.
If you lived in California instead of Sweden, you would:
pay 35.8% more for restaurants
|
Sweden
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$11.92
SEK119.33
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.45
SEK94.66
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
SEK20.44
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
SEK19.31
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 47.7% more for groceries
|
Sweden
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.49
SEK24.89
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.18
SEK51.91
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.43
SEK54.42
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.74
SEK37.44
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.68
SEK46.82
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.19
SEK11.93
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.06
SEK10.58
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.13
SEK11.36
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.73
SEK17.32
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.67
SEK6.75
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.70
SEK7.02
|
$1.44
|
|
pay 7.8% less for transportation
|
Sweden
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$6.64
SEK66.44
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$68.10
SEK681.91
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$26,850.74
SEK268,850.57
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$21.47
SEK214.93
|
$20.07
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for housing
|
Sweden
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$30.29
SEK303.26
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$821.73
SEK8,227.77
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$641.62
SEK6,424.41
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$77.37
SEK774.71
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 11.8 times more for childcare
|
Sweden
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$122.27
SEK1,224.31
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,135.75
SEK31,397.56
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 37.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Sweden
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.64
SEK66.50
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.78
SEK37.90
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$6.41
SEK64.17
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$38.70
SEK387.48
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
SEK142.55
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 6.4% less for clothing
|
Sweden
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$79.10
SEK791.98
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$35.56
SEK356.06
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$84.42
SEK845.30
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$125.14
SEK1,252.99
|
$117.31
|
|
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