9 cities compared · 2026

🇸🇪 Sweden vs 🇩🇰 Denmark

Denmark is 22.5% pricier, but purchasing power is 12.0% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+22.5%

Cost of Living

+14.3%

Rent

+14.4%

Groceries

+33.9%

Restaurants

+12%

Purchasing Power

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	45.3	55.5	+22.5%
Rent	24.5	28	+14.3%
Groceries	67.2	76.9	+14.4%
Restaurants	73.1	97.9	+33.9%
Purchasing Power	133.6	149.6	+12%

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
kr40,000 ≈ kr26,000	kr37,041	kr23,920	-kr784
kr60,000 ≈ kr40,000	kr55,430	kr36,800	+kr350
kr80,000 ≈ kr53,000	kr73,859	kr48,760	+kr49
kr100,000 ≈ kr66,000	kr90,853	kr59,925	-kr21

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

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

🇸🇪

Sweden

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Stockholm	55.2	34.3	120.7
Gothenburg	43.9	23.5	152.8
Malmo	44.6	22.8	130
Uppsala	42	20.5	133.7
Lund	40.9	21.3	130.6

🇩🇰

Denmark

City	CoL	Rent	PP
Copenhagen	63.9	42	132
Aalborg	54	20.8	153
Aarhus	52.8	29.2	159.4
Odense	51.2	20.1	154

City-to-City Comparisons

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

Stockholm → Copenhagen

Stockholm → Aarhus

Stockholm → Aalborg

Gothenburg → Copenhagen

Gothenburg → Aarhus

Gothenburg → Aalborg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Denmark more expensive than Sweden?

Denmark is 22.5% more expensive than Sweden overall. Rent is 14.3% higher, and groceries are 14.4% 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 133.6 while Denmark has 149.6 (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 24.5 vs 28 in Denmark (NYC = 100). Rent in Denmark is 14.3% 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.