Denmark is 17.6% pricier, but purchasing power is 10.5% 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 | 70.4 | 82.8 | +17.6% |
| Rent | 26.3 | 29.2 | +11% |
| Groceries | 75 | 83.1 | +10.8% |
| Restaurants | 72.6 | 95.8 | +32% |
| Purchasing Power | 131.3 | 145.1 | +10.5% |
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 | €40,000 | €36,800 | -€3,200 |
| €60,000 | €60,000 | €55,200 | -€4,800 |
| €80,000 | €80,000 | €70,019 | -€9,981 |
| €100,000 | €100,000 | €82,736 | -€17,264 |
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 | 81.8 | 37.5 | 114.4 |
| Gothenburg | 66.5 | 25.2 | 152.1 |
| Malmo | 68.1 | 23.9 | 134.1 |
| Uppsala | 69.6 | 22 | 127.7 |
| Lund | 66 | 23 | 128.1 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen | 89.9 | 42.6 | 131 |
| Aarhus | 82.8 | 30.6 | 148.1 |
| Aalborg | 81.5 | 21.8 | 150.1 |
| Odense | 77.1 | 21.8 | 151 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Sweden and Denmark.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
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