Cost Planner

Living Costs in Sweden for Students

Plan your budget effectively with this comprehensive breakdown of living expenses for international students in Sweden. From accommodation and food to transportation and recreation, understand the real costs of studying in Sweden.

Example Monthly Budget in Lund

Monthly

HousingSEK 4,000 to 8,000

FoodSEK 3,000

Course booksSEK 400 to 1,000

Clothes, phone, free timeSEK 1,500

Example from Lund University's student budget. Your own costs depend on your city and how you live.

Monthly Costs, Item by Item

Monthly amounts from three KTH students and from Lund University's example budget.

Housing

Corridor room (KTH student)SEK 3,800 a month

Stockholm, 2026.

Shared apartment (KTH student)SEK 4,350 a month

Stockholm, 2026.

A KTH Housing room (KTH student)SEK 8,200 a month

Stockholm, 2026.

Rent a month.

Housing Tip

A corridor room (your own room with a shared kitchen) or a shared apartment usually costs less.

Food

KTH students, StockholmSEK 2,000 to 3,000

Reported in 2026.

Lund University exampleSEK 3,000

A month.

Food a month.

Food Tip

Cook at home and take lunch to campus.

Transport

Student monthly ticket, Stockholm (SL)SEK 650 a month

Reported by KTH students in 2026.

Travel in the city.

Transport Tip

Students can get a cheaper public transport ticket. Ask your university if you qualify.

Costs in Two Student Cities

Monthly amounts. Stockholm figures are what three students at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) said they spent. Lund figures are an example budget from Lund University.

City	Housing (shared)	Food	Transport	Monthly Total
Stockholm (KTH students, 2026)	SEK 3,800 to 8,200 a month	SEK 2,000 to 3,000 a month	SEK 300 to 650 a month	SEK 7,850 to 13,000 a month
Lund (Lund University example)	SEK 4,000 to 8,000 a month	SEK 3,000 a month	-	-

Rent Varies Most

In the KTH examples, rent was SEK 3,800 a month for a corridor room (your own room with a shared kitchen) and SEK 8,200 for a room through KTH Housing, the KTH housing service.

Share to Save

Sharing an apartment or renting a corridor room (your own room with a shared kitchen) can lower your housing cost.

Housing Cost Factors

Rent is often the biggest cost. It depends on where you live and whether you share.

Ways to Save

Simple ways to spend less.

Housing

Share an apartment or rent a corridor room (your own room with a shared kitchen).
Apply to several housing providers early.

Food

Cook at home and bring leftovers for lunch.
Ask for student discounts in shops.

Costs People Forget

Costs that are not in a monthly budget.

Fees Before You Arrive

Application fee

SEK 900

Paid to University Admissions in Sweden (the website where you apply) when you apply. You pay it again each time you apply for a new start, such as a spring start.

Residence permit fee

SEK 1,500

Fee for the residence permit, the permit that lets you live and study in Sweden. Paid once, when you apply to the Swedish Migration Agency (Sweden's immigration office).

Emergency Fund

Financial advisors recommend maintaining an emergency fund of for unexpected situations. Keep some money aside for unexpected costs, such as a housing deposit or a doctor's visit.

Housing deposit and cleaning charge

LU Accommodation, the service that rents rooms to Lund University students, asks for a deposit (money you get back when you move out) and a one-time cleaning charge when you accept a room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about living costs in Sweden. Amounts are in Swedish krona (SEK). Check the exchange rate to see what that means in your own currency.

How much money do I need each month?

To get your residence permit (the permit that lets you live and study in Sweden), you must show at least SEK 10,656 for each month. This is the amount for applications made in 2026. Check the amount for 2027 on the Migration Agency website when you apply. It is not a full budget.

What do students really spend in Stockholm?

Three international students at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm said they spent SEK 7,850, SEK 10,000 and SEK 13,000 a month in 2026 on housing, food, transport and hobbies.