Denmark is 17.9% pricier, but purchasing power is 14.5% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.
Compared to Sweden. Green = cheaper or better in Denmark. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 9 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 🇩🇰 Denmark | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 69.4 | 81.8 | +17.9% |
| Rent | 26.3 | 29.4 | +11.8% |
| Groceries | 72.6 | 80.1 | +10.3% |
| Restaurants | 71.8 | 94.9 | +32.2% |
| Purchasing Power | 124.7 | 142.8 | +14.5% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Stockholm vs Copenhagen.
| Gross | 🇸🇪 Net in Sweden | 🇩🇰 Net in Denmark | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €403,952 | €324,357 | -€79,595 |
| €60,000 | €547,619 | €467,880 | -€79,739 |
| €80,000 | €666,131 | €586,059 | -€80,072 |
| €100,000 | €784,643 | €695,576 | -€89,067 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Stockholm and Copenhagen (2026). Try the full calculator
Tax Calculators
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.
Calculate Your Take-Home PayTop Cities in Each Country
National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | 80.6 | 37.7 | 110.2 |
| Gothenburg | 65.7 | 24.8 | 144.5 |
| Malmo | 67.3 | 24.1 | 124.2 |
| Uppsala | 68.1 | 22.2 | 122.4 |
| Lund | 65.3 | 22.9 | 122 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen | 88.2 | 44.2 | 132.2 |
| Aarhus | 81.8 | 30.5 | 141 |
| Aalborg | 80.9 | 21.5 | 153.7 |
| Odense | 76.2 | 21.3 | 144.4 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Sweden and Denmark.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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