Sweden’s Cost of Living in 2025 (Stockholm, Gothenburg etc.)

Living in Sweden can be pricey compared to many other countries. For a single person, the monthly expenses come in at around €2,500. For a couple, the cost climbs to about €4,250 per month, while a family of four might spend around €5,000 per month.

My estimations above include rent and all potential expenses each person has on a monthly basis. Depending on lifestyle, though, these can easily go up. A lot!

If you want to get a bit more in-depth with the numbers, we’ll do so below, covering the different categories where your money will go, as well as comments and tips to help you optimize your spending.

Note: My estimates below are for somebody living a normal life – not one of luxury, but not on the lower end either.

Also, although Sweden’s currency is the SEK (Swedish Krona), I will list all the prices below in Euros, since it will be easier to relate to that.

Rental prices in Sweden

Out of all your monthly expenses, accommodation will probably be the biggest one. Renting is not cheap in Sweden and prices for buying property are even higher. But we’ll stick to rentals for now.

Here is what you should expect to pay as monthly rent in Sweden, depending on your choice:

• shared room in an apartment: around 650 Euros/month
• 1-bedroom apartment (live alone): €1,100 – €1,430 per month (depending on location)
• 2-bedroom apartment: around €2,000 /month

Generally, prices are higher in the largest cities in the country (Stockholm, Gothenborg and Malmo), but the differences are not huge. So the prices above can be considered averages throughout the country.

Costs for Utilities

Unlike in most other countries in Scandinavia, utilities are usually included in the rent in Sweden, saving you an important monthly expense.

But make sure to check this before signing the agreement: sometimes, just some of the utilities will be included, while on some occasions none might be included in your monthly rental costs.

If you need to pay separately, here are the typical costs:

• For electricity, heating, water and gas: around €170 per month, depending on consumption (usually higher during the winter)
• Internet & TV: 55 Euros per month
• Mobile: around 35 Euros for unlimited local calls and 10GB of Internet

Utility costs in Sweden are lower than in the other Nordic countries. If you’re curious to check them out as well, read below:

• Cost of living in Norway
• Cost of living in Denmark
• Cost of living in Finland
• Cost of living in Iceland

Back to the utilities, keep in mind that electricity and heating costs can easily explode if you keep temperatures tropical inside while there’s -20 degrees Celsius outside.

Food Costs in Sweden

Food is delicious in Sweden, but usually expensive. After rent, food expenses are the second biggest drain on your monthly budget. Even cooking at home is expensive here compared to other countries, but at least salaries in Sweden are competitive.

The monthly costs in this category here are always very difficult to estimate, because they can vary a lot from person to person, based on their eating habits.

All in all, with eating out once a week included in the costs, I estimate that a single person will spend at least €660 per month on food, while a couple will spend around €1,100.

Let’s look at some actual prices for some things you can buy in supermarkets in Sweden:

• 1 Liter of milk – €1.40
• 1 Loaf of bread – €2.40
• 12 eggs – €3.5
• Local Cheese (1kg) – €13 (although prices vary a lot)
• Chicken breasts (1kg) – €15

• Potatoes (1kg): €1.5
• Tomatoes (1kg): €5.00
• Apples (1kg): €3.1
• Bananas (1kg): €2.50
• Oranges (1kg): €2.50

• Bottled water (1.5 liters): €1.80
• Beer (store-brought): €2.00
• Wine (store-brought): €15 (prices vary a lot here as well, consider the listed one as the average)

Seasonality comes into play here, with prices going up during the winter and down during the summer and especially autumn, at least when it comes to vegetables.

Costs of eating out in Sweden

Here is what to expect to pay when eating out:

• Meal for 2 in regular restaurant, with a drink included: 45 – 60 Euros
• Meal for 2 in a better restaurant, with drinks included: 100 Euros and up
• Beer in a restaurant: 12 Euros
• Bottle of juice: 2.5 Euros
• Cappuccino or Latte: 3.5 Euros
• Falafel wrap (to go): 8 Euros

If you like what you see and you’re preparing to move here, I recommend reading about Swedish culture and what makes the beautiful blond Swedish look.

Other Expenses

There are many other expenses that you will have each month, and these are pretty difficult to estimate as they vary greatly based on needs and personal shopping preferences.

Buying new clothes, consumables, maybe going to the gym or a theater or cinema, plus transportation-related costs are some of these expenses and they can be kept to a minimum or break your budget.

I will list below some of the prices you should expect to be paying in Sweden for various things and services:

• 1 ticket for public transportation: 3.00 Euros
• Monthly public transport pass: 85 Euros
• Gasoline: €1.75/liter
• Movie ticket: €15.00
• Gym Membership (1 month): 45 Euros

There might also be unexpected expenses, so try to have an emergency fund for these.

Total Monthly Expenses in Sweden

Let’s add up the estimated expenses above and see the amount they add up to, basically giving us the real cost of living in Sweden this year.

Rent & Utilities (internet & TV included): 1,250 Euros / month
Food, Eating out & Entertainment: 825 Euros / month
Other expenses: 425 Euros / month
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TOTAL: 2,500 Euros / month

These costs are for a pretty basic lifestyle and they can go up a lot, and fast, if you want to live a more luxurious lifestyle or party/eat out often. You will live a decent life on this budget, though.

The numbers above are for a single person’s monthly expenses, with the note that couples and families will end up paying less per person per month.

So, if you really needed a solid reason to meet that dream Swedish woman (or the perfect Swedish man), now you have one extra: it’s cheaper when you share the costs!

Why is Sweden so expensive to live in?

While living in Sweden is expensive compared to other countries in Europe, we have to note that the salaries are also generally higher and the quality of life is great.

Combine that with the high standard of living, free education and healthcare and all the other benefits one gets when living in Sweden, and you understand why you end up spending more than you would in Belgrade, for example – or Cebu, in the Philippines.

The point is that even though the cost of living is higher when comparing actual numbers, the salaries are created to match that cost of living and so are the living conditions.

Wrapping up

Now you have a much clearer view of what it costs to live in Sweden, no matter if you’re living alone, are part of a couple or have a larger family.

I’d love to hear from those who already live in Sweden – your insights help everyone get a more complete understanding of the real costs. Feel free to share your monthly expenses or any surprises you encountered. Your experiences can help paint a more complete picture for others considering life in Sweden.

And you can prepare ahead by checking out my recommended dating websites for Scandinavia, as well as tips and tricks to impress a Swedish woman. Good luck!