Portland vs Stockholm
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Portland
Stockholm
The Verdict
Stockholm is 20.6% less expensive than Portland overall. A household earning $75,000 in Portland would need approximately $62,179 in Stockholm to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Portland has the same purchasing power as $62,179 in Stockholm.
Conversely, $75,000 in Stockholm equals $90,464 in Portland.
Living in Portland vs Stockholm
Housing Costs
Portland's housing index of 137 is higher Stockholm's 118, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $445,000. The $50,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,252 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Portland compared to $1,500/mo in Stockholm, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 107 in Portland and 92 in Stockholm. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Portland vs $437/month in Stockholm. Stockholm offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $852/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 111 in Portland and 88 in Stockholm. Monthly utility bills average approximately $444 in Portland vs $352 in Stockholm. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Portland and 82 in Stockholm. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 28-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,895 in Portland and $50,000 in Stockholm. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,628 and $51,546 respectively. Stockholm residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,328/month to housing in Portland vs $1,167/month in Stockholm. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Stockholm, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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