Is it expensive to study in Sweden?

Is it expensive to study in Sweden? Well, let’s look into that. With so many top-ranking universities, Sweden is a fantastic and popular destination for international students from all over the world. The minimum living expense requirement for international students in Sweden is SEK 8 694 per month, but how should you budget your money to make sure all your necessities are covered?

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We have broken down the main costs of being a student in Sweden, and how much money you should expect to spend on each category. Plus, we have included a few tips on how you can save money while studying in Sweden.

Accommodation

Your biggest monthly cost while studying in Sweden will be your accommodation. The most common and affordable option is to live in a student dorm where you will have your own bedroom and share a kitchen and living room with other students. You should expect the cost of your accommodation to range between SEK 3 500-5 000, but this will depend on which city you live in. In larger cities like Stockholm, you can expect to spend beyond this price range. Your university’s website will be able to give you specific information about local student housing companies and how to find accommodation.

Food

A big part of budgeting as a student in Sweden is managing your spending on groceries. Food will be your second largest expense as a student in Sweden so you will want to make sure your budget goes as far as possible. It is recommended to budget around SEK 2 000 for your monthly food budget.

A great way to save money on your groceries is to sign up for loyalty programs offered by different grocery store chains in Sweden. Signing up for loyalty programs will give you access to member-only discounts and perks. You can sign up for a great membership program at Hemköp* and earn points each time you shop. At the end of the month, you will get a discount coupon depending on how many points you have earned. Super handy!

Another great way to save money on your pantry staples is to shop at Matsmart*. They sell products that are either short-dated, seasonal, incorrectly packaged, or overproduced. That means you can buy them at a heavily discounted price! You can easily fill your cart online and have your groceries delivered to your home. And they usually stock a tonne of noodles:-).

If you are swamped by assignments but have an empty fridge, MatHem* lets you order your groceries right from your phone to your door. You can browse through recipes and add the ingredients list directly to your shopping cart. This is a great option to save yourself time so you can focus on studying.

Transport

The cost of getting around as a student in Sweden will vary depending on which city you will study in. If you will be using the local public transport network regularly you can save money with a monthly student-priced bus card. You should budget around SEK 500-600 for local travel within your city. Another great budget-friendly way to get around in Sweden is by bicycle! Sweden is super bike-friendly, and you will find well-developed cycling routes in most urban areas.

TIP: If you want to travel between different cities in Sweden, you can travel with bus companies like VY Bus4You* and get discounted student tickets!

Phone/Internet

When you move to Sweden you will need to set up a mobile phone contract and internet for your student accommodation. This should cost around SEK 300-400 a month. You can check out our comprehensive guides to Swedish phone companies and internet providers.

Miscellaneous

After all of the necessary expenses you should have around SEK 1 500 to use for all other expenses such as clothing and entertainment.

You can look stylish on a budget by shopping at Yaytrade*. Yaytrade sells premium clothing at heavily discounted prices, and you can find both new and second-hand items.

Sweden is great for saving money on entertainment because it costs nothing to get out and enjoy the beautiful nature on offer. You can go hiking in the forest, have picnics in the park or go cycling through the countryside. Forgot to pack your hiking boots? Outdoorexperten* has you covered for everything you could need for an outdoor adventure.

While Sweden does have a reputation for being an expensive place to study, it is possible to budget for all your living expenses and still have some money leftover each month for a nice fika at a café or a few beers down at the pub.