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I’m moving to Sweden from the Bay Area and this seems very low - I spend that for myself and my wife probably over two days (including coffees etc)… Is this the

I’m moving to Sweden from the Bay Area and this seems very low - I spend that for myself and my wife probably over two days (including coffees etc)… Is this the genuine average? It’ll make me swallow lower salaries a lot easier!

Ekaros 3y ago
Nope, that is extremely low. I would double that for buying food just from a super market. And even then it is likely not too special. 150€ sounds like the advertised poor person diet. Rice, beans, cheap vegetables like potatoes, little of cheap meat(chicken legs maybe).
- triceratops 3y ago
  > 150€ sounds like the advertised poor person diet. Rice, beans, cheap vegetables like potatoes, little of cheap meat(chicken legs maybe). That's my diet too lol. Am I eating like a poor person? TIL
  - Scoundreller 3y ago
    Hopefully you’re not eating like that and poor. If you did, you’re going to live a long time and need to save a ton for a long retirement!
    - triceratops 3y ago
      "Only the rich can truly afford to eat like they're poor" - Scoundreller
rlkf 3y ago
The average expenditure on food and staples of a Norwegian household is according to national statistics €235/month/person (not including dining out); based on the general cost difference between Norway and Sweden, this should translate into €210/month/person.
- throwaway290 3y ago
  Some people on HN when they talk average mean average for HN crowd... and it is very different from overall average
  - snordgren 3y ago
    That's very likely. If you eat for €2k in Sweden you're not eating out at any time during the month. You can add at least another €2k to that if you want to go out to eat every workday lunch, which many high-income people do. Speaking from personal experience, its mostly younger workers who eat yesterday's leftovers in the cafeteria.
alpinemeadow 3y ago
Looking at my banking app for the last 6 months I spend between 6K to 10K Swedish crowns in supermarket food, work lunches and dinning. I live I Malmo. Stockholm dining will be more expensive. Moved here in 2011 from the US, love it. 6 weeks of paid vacation and work life balance: priceless. Welcome!
- busterarm 3y ago
  And 30 minutes to CPH. Not a bad life.

Ekaros 3y ago

Nope, that is extremely low. I would double that for buying food just from a super market. And even then it is likely not too special. 150€ sounds like the advertised poor person diet. Rice, beans, cheap vegetables like potatoes, little of cheap meat(chicken legs maybe).

triceratops 3y ago
> 150€ sounds like the advertised poor person diet. Rice, beans, cheap vegetables like potatoes, little of cheap meat(chicken legs maybe). That's my diet too lol. Am I eating like a poor person? TIL
- Scoundreller 3y ago
  Hopefully you’re not eating like that and poor. If you did, you’re going to live a long time and need to save a ton for a long retirement!
  - triceratops 3y ago
    "Only the rich can truly afford to eat like they're poor" - Scoundreller

rlkf 3y ago

The average expenditure on food and staples of a Norwegian household is according to national statistics €235/month/person (not including dining out); based on the general cost difference between Norway and Sweden, this should translate into €210/month/person.

throwaway290 3y ago
Some people on HN when they talk average mean average for HN crowd... and it is very different from overall average
- snordgren 3y ago
  That's very likely. If you eat for €2k in Sweden you're not eating out at any time during the month. You can add at least another €2k to that if you want to go out to eat every workday lunch, which many high-income people do. Speaking from personal experience, its mostly younger workers who eat yesterday's leftovers in the cafeteria.

alpinemeadow 3y ago

Looking at my banking app for the last 6 months I spend between 6K to 10K Swedish crowns in supermarket food, work lunches and dinning. I live I Malmo. Stockholm dining will be more expensive. Moved here in 2011 from the US, love it. 6 weeks of paid vacation and work life balance: priceless. Welcome!

busterarm 3y ago
And 30 minutes to CPH. Not a bad life.