9 cities compared · 2026

🇸🇪 Sweden vs 🇩🇰 Denmark

Denmark is 16.1% pricier, but purchasing power is 14.9% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+16.1%
Cost of Living
+13.2%
Rent
+9.5%
Groceries
+32.2%
Restaurants
+14.9%
Purchasing Power

Compared to Sweden. Green = cheaper or better in Denmark. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Every Category, Side by Side

Sweden vs Denmark

Averaged across 9 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category 🇸🇪 🇩🇰 Diff
Cost of Living 68.5 79.5 +16.1%
Rent 25 28.3 +13.2%
Groceries 69.5 76.1 +9.5%
Restaurants 72.1 95.3 +32.2%
Purchasing Power 139.9 160.7 +14.9%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Stockholm vs Copenhagen

Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Stockholm vs Copenhagen.

Gross 🇸🇪 Net in Sweden 🇩🇰 Net in Denmark Diff
€40,000 €403,467 €321,772 -€81,695
€60,000 €544,942 €466,886 -€78,056
€80,000 €660,742 €592,730 -€68,012
€100,000 €776,542 €702,247 -€74,295

Single person, no children. Tax rates for Stockholm and Copenhagen (2026). Try the full calculator

Tax Calculators

See detailed income tax brackets and net salary calculations for Sweden and Denmark.

🇸🇪
Sweden Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary
🇩🇰
Denmark Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay

Top Cities in Each Country

Sweden & Denmark

National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.

🇸🇪

Sweden

City CoL Rent PP
Stockholm 78.7 34.3 127.5
Gothenburg 65.2 23.2 166.4
Malmo 67.7 24.2 135.9
Uppsala 67.7 21 131.5
Lund 63.2 22.3 138.2
🇩🇰

Denmark

City CoL Rent PP
Copenhagen 84 42.4 148.7
Aarhus 79.7 29.1 153.8
Aalborg 78.7 20.6 170.7
Odense 75.6 20.9 169.6

City-to-City Comparisons

Sweden ↔ Denmark

See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Sweden and Denmark.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Denmark more expensive than Sweden?
Denmark is 16.1% more expensive than Sweden overall. Rent is 13.2% higher, and groceries are 9.5% more expensive. These figures are averages across 4 cities in Denmark and 5 cities in Sweden.
Which country has better purchasing power, Sweden or Denmark?
Sweden has an average purchasing power index of 139.9 while Denmark has 160.7 (NYC = 100). Denmark offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in Sweden or Denmark?
Average rent in Sweden has an index of 25 vs 28.3 in Denmark (NYC = 100). Rent in Denmark is 13.2% higher than in Sweden.
How many cities are compared between Sweden and Denmark?
Our comparison covers 5 cities in Sweden and 4 cities in Denmark, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

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These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.