(edit title) Cost comparison between Sweden and USA Interested in fact based comparison Options

[jackiejunkie]

Hi All,

I am interested in comparing actual cost of living (or purchasing) in Sweden and USA.
I hear every now and then that Sweden is far costlier than USA (or may be the other way around). But I am just interested in finding actual cost of things in two countries.

For example, I have heard many people saying that iPhone 4 is way cheaper in USA than in Sweden. But I was doing my own comparison yesterday and found that iPhone4 is much cheaper in Sweden than USA. This is the basis of my comparison:

iPhone4 32GB in Sweden: Telenor 799 kr/month (24 months binding time), unlimited data usage, all free calls in Sweden, all free messaging in Sweden
iPhone4 32GB in USA: AT&T $367.15 One time charge + $134.99/month (24 months binding time) 2GB data usage, unlimited national calls, unlimited national messaging

With these numbers, the total cost of owning an iPhone4 in 24 months in Sweden is 19176 kr whereas the total cost in USA is about $3606 (~ 24586 kr at the exchange rate of $1 = 6.8 kr). So, I find an iPhone4 quite cheaper in Sweden than USA.

Another example could be buying a laptop. I compared a Sony vaio laptop on BestBuy in USA and on Elgiganten in Sweden.
The laptop configuration is exactly the same but the price difference is huge.

Sony vaio on BestBuy: $899 (~ 6113.2 kr at $1 = 6.8 kr)
Sony vaio on Elgiganten: 9990 kr

I have never been to the USA, so I cannot say about other things like renting or buying an apartment/daycare for children/cost of schooling for children/buying a car/cost of groceries for a family of 3 or 4 / any other thing related to a family or person.

So I want expats from USA on this site to give exact comparison. I know that the cost can vary a lot between different places in each country. So I would like to comparison with exact numbers between cities with approx. same population like Stockholm & San Diego (or any other cities with similar population).

I am interested in this because I want to make an informed choice whether the myth of USA being cheaper than Sweden is really true or It's nearly the same cost of living in the end ).

Hope to see many informative replies in this thread.

[007]

iPhone4 32GB in Sweden: Telenor 799 kr/month (24 months binding time), unlimited data usage, all free calls in Sweden, all free messaging in SwedeniPhone4 32GB in USA: AT& ... (show full quote)

iPhone4 32GB in Sweden: Telenor 799 kr/month (24 months binding time), unlimited data usage, all free calls in Sweden, all free messaging in Sweden
iPhone4 32GB in USA: AT&T $367.15 One time charge + $134.99/month (24 months binding time) 2GB data usage, unlimited national calls, unlimited national messaging

With these numbers, the total cost of owning an iPhone4 in 24 months in Sweden is 19176 kr whereas the total cost in USA is about $3606 (~ 24586 kr at the exchange rate of $1 = 6.8 kr). So, I find an iPhone4 quite cheaper in Sweden than USA.

Another example could be buying a laptop. I compared a Sony vaio laptop on BestBuy in USA and on Elgiganten in Sweden.
The laptop configuration is exactly the same but the price difference is huge.

Sony vaio on BestBuy: $899 (~ 6113.2 kr at $1 = 6.8 kr)
Sony vaio on Elgiganten: 9990 kr ... (hide full quote)

i find that many things that i would buy are considerably cheaper in the US than sweden, but not always. re: the iphone comparison. how much would a phone cost without a subscription in each place? (and is the dollar really 6.8? of late i play with the number 7ish:1)

it's hard to compare across the board since things like housing, childcare, energy, transport are very different as are salaries for different professions all over the US. plus you need to keep in mind that in the US you have a consumer base of 300million and in sweden it's only 9million. so you can almost always find a bargin in the US somewhere, somehow.

[Rick Methven]

i find that many things that i would buy are considerably cheaper in the US than sweden, but not always. re: the iphone comparison. how much would a phone cost without a subsc ... (show full quote)

i find that many things that i would buy are considerably cheaper in the US than sweden, but not always. re: the iphone comparison. how much would a phone cost without a subscription in each place? (and is the dollar really 6.8? of late i play with the number 7ish:1) ... (hide full quote)

Current $/kr is 6.78330

[americanska]

dude you are getting ripped off by someone. an iphone 4 plan shouldn't be more then $70.

however you have to remember, a mobil phone number in the US and Canada is just another phone number. in Europe, if you call a mobile phone from a landline get have outrages per minute usage.

[007]

Current $/kr is 6.78330

sweet. time to be making some orders on line for xmas

[Lostaussie]

to buy is 7.03SEK to USD on xchange.se today.

[Rick Methven]

to buy is 7.03SEK to USD on xchange.se today.

I use the FT rate updated every 10 minutes

[jackiejunkie]

i find that many things that i would buy are considerably cheaper in the US than sweden, but not always. re: the iphone comparison. how much would a phone cost without a subsc ... (show full quote)

i find that many things that i would buy are considerably cheaper in the US than sweden, but not always. re: the iphone comparison. how much would a phone cost without a subscription in each place? (and is the dollar really 6.8? of late i play with the number 7ish:1)

it's hard to compare across the board since things like housing, childcare, energy, transport are very different as are salaries for different professions all over the US. plus you need to keep in mind that in the US you have a consumer base of 300million and in sweden it's only 9million. so you can almost always find a bargin in the US somewhere, somehow. ... (hide full quote)

Yes, I know it's hard to come across the exact comparison, that's why I said to compare between similar kind of cities (e.g. with similar population base Stockholm & San Diego or Göteborg & Sacramento, Malmö & Tampa FL). I am not interested in comparison between salaries, but just in the absolute costs. It's everyone's personal choice to compare salaries. You can give some examples like a pair of jeans or a good winter jacket in H&M in Sweden and in USA. Or Same kind of Nike jogging shoes in USA & Sweden.

Even though US has a large consumer base, some costs are always dependent on the population of cities (e.g. childcare, education for children, healthcare). You don't really want to put your child in a school in another city 100 miles away just because it's a bargain.

Regarding iphone, what I understand is that you can't really buy an iphone4 without contract in USA. In sweden the cheapest price without contract is about 8700 - 9000 kr.

I just want a perspective from different people, and some facts to understand that perspective.
Hope you get my point.

[americanska]

Yes, I know it's hard to come across the exact comparison, that's why I said to compare between similar kind of cities (e.g. with similar population base Stockholm &am ... (show full quote)

Yes, I know it's hard to come across the exact comparison, that's why I said to compare between similar kind of cities (e.g. with similar population base Stockholm & San Diego or Göteborg & Sacramento, Malmö & Tampa FL). I am not interested in comparison between salaries, but just in the absolute costs. It's everyone's personal choice to compare salaries. You can give some examples like a pair of jeans or a good winter jacket in H&M in Sweden and in USA. Or Same kind of Nike jogging shoes in USA & Sweden.

Even though US has a large consumer base, some costs are always dependent on the population of cities (e.g. childcare, education for children, healthcare). You don't really want to put your child in a school in another city 100 miles away just because it's a bargain.

Regarding iphone, what I understand is that you can't really buy an iphone4 without contract in USA. In sweden the cheapest price without contract is about 8700 - 9000 kr.

I just want a perspective from different people, and some facts to understand that perspective.
Hope you get my point. ... (hide full quote)

Oh, I see now. You are comparing Sweden and California. Not Sweden and the US. In that case property is probably cheaper in Sweden and Taxes aren't that much worse. And it would obviously depend on the industry you are Most industries you will find your are going to have much more opportunity for making money in California than in Sweden.

But there are less illigal immigrants in Sweden than California on a % of population basis.

[americanska]

If you want to buy an unlocked iPhone4 get it from the UK. £500

the pound is very weak so that's £830

[007]

Regarding iphone, what I understand is that you can't really buy an iphone4 without contract in USA.

you sure about that? and if that's true why aren't people marching on washington about freedom?

[mikewhite]

So are you actually comparing "cost of living" or just cost of consumer goods, knowing you already have a place to live, food on the table, children in a reasonable school and healthcare provided for ?

On the iphone issue, to be fair you really should compare like with like, eg. same data and minutes contract, or unlocked price. If corresponding is not available then don't use it.

[Puffin]

Is this all about electrical goods?

[Lostaussie]

you sure about that? and if that's true why aren't people marching on washington about freedom?

ATT had exclusive rights to the Iphone in the USA and it was just about impossible to buy one without a ATT contract chucked in. Thats about to change or maybe has changed already.

[temporary]

A grocery chain (Krogers) has a store locator, where you at each store can find their weekly ads with prices:
http://services.kroger.com/StoreLocator/St...orAdvanced.aspx