Cost of Living in Sweden 2026: Official Budget Figures
Sweden publishes its own arithmetic for what a person needs to live on. The Swedish Migration Agency publishes how much money a person must have left each month after paying for housing, and Study in Sweden, run by the Swedish Institute, publishes a matching student budget. Add the national median salary and you have three fixed points to plan around. This guide lays them out as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Study in Sweden puts the minimum average student budget at SEK 10,656 per month, of which SEK 4,900 is accommodation and SEK 2,716 food. The Migration Agency's test for residents is that a single adult must have SEK 6,243 per month left after housing costs in 2026. Rent for a student is usually between SEK 3,000 and 7,000. The median salary in Sweden is SEK 38,300 a month, and a work permit requires at least SEK 34,470.
A monthly budget for one person
| Item | SEK per month |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 4,900 |
| Food | 2,716 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,990 |
| Local travel | 650 |
| Phone and internet | 400 |
| Total | 10,656 |
This is Study in Sweden's breakdown of the minimum average monthly student budget. The total matches the immigration rule: a student applying for a residence permit in 2026 must show at least SEK 10,656 per month. Study in Sweden adds the obvious caveat that you might spend more or less, depending on your lifestyle and where you live.
Housing
- Rent: a student's monthly rent will probably cost between SEK 3,000 and 7,000, or perhaps even more, depending on the city, location, size and type of housing.
- Big cities cost more: rent in Stockholm or Gothenburg tends to be higher than in smaller cities, and student housing is in high demand there and in Lund and Uppsala.
- Queues: most rental flats are allocated through housing queues by time waited, which can mean a wait of a few years. A sublet, or second-hand contract, is quicker.
Study in Sweden warns about fraud in the sublet market. A demand for money before you have seen the flat is a warning sign, and so is a landlord who will not give a real name or personal identity number. Do not send money before you have signed a contract and have access to the flat.
What the Migration Agency says a person needs
For residence permits, the agency uses a standard amount: what must be left of your income after tax once the housing cost is paid, to cover food, clothing, hygiene, telephone and insurance.
| Household member | SEK per month after housing costs |
|---|---|
| A single adult | 6,243 |
| Cohabiting spouses or partners | 10,314 |
| Child aged 0–6 | 3,336 |
| Child aged 7–10 | 4,004 |
| Child aged 11–14 | 4,672 |
| Child aged 15 or older | 5,339 |
The agency lists the household amounts for 2025 on its work permit page and gives SEK 6,243 for a single adult for 2026 on its extension page. These are floors used to decide permits, not typical spending.
What counts as housing cost
- In a rented flat: the rent, plus heating if it is not included.
- In a tenant-owner flat: the association fee, interest on home loans and necessary operating costs.
- In a house: loan interest and operating costs such as water and heating.
Electricity is not added on top, because the agency counts it inside the standard amount.
What people earn
| Benchmark, from 16 June 2026 | SEK per month |
|---|---|
| Median salary in Sweden, published by Statistics Sweden | 38,300 |
| 90 per cent of the median: the work permit salary requirement | 34,470 |
| 80 per cent of the median: transitional level for some extensions | 30,640 |
| 75 per cent of the median: exempt occupations | 28,725 |
The median has risen each year in the agency's table: SEK 35,600 from June 2024, SEK 37,100 from June 2025 and SEK 38,300 from June 2026.
Students: funds for family
A student who brings family must show more: an additional SEK 4,440 per month for a spouse or cohabiting partner and SEK 2,664 per month for each child. Free food or housing from the university reduces the student's own amount by SEK 2,960 and SEK 4,736 a month.
One-off costs
- Work permit application: SEK 2,200
- Study permit application, or an adult family member: SEK 1,500
- Child: SEK 750
How expensive is Sweden, really?
Study in Sweden's own answer: Sweden is expensive, but not as expensive as Switzerland, and with some smart spending it can be affordable. A national student discount card gives reductions in shops, cafés, gyms, restaurants and on travel.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Sweden per month?
Study in Sweden puts the minimum average student budget at around SEK 10,656 per month: SEK 4,900 for accommodation, SEK 2,716 for food and the rest for travel, phone and miscellaneous costs.
How much is rent in Sweden?
A student's monthly rent will probably cost between SEK 3,000 and 7,000, and more in large cities such as Stockholm or Gothenburg.
What is the average salary in Sweden?
The median salary published by Statistics Sweden is SEK 38,300 a month as of 16 June 2026.
How much money does the Migration Agency say I need?
After tax and housing costs, a single adult must have SEK 6,243 per month left in 2026. A work permit also requires a salary of at least SEK 34,470.
How much do students need in Sweden?
At least SEK 10,656 per month if applying for a residence permit in 2026, plus SEK 4,440 for a partner and SEK 2,664 for each child.
Is it hard to find housing in Sweden?
In big cities, yes. Flats are allocated by time in a housing queue, which can take years, so Study in Sweden says a sublet is quicker.
Is electricity extra?
For the Migration Agency's calculation, no. Electricity is included in the standard amount rather than in the housing cost.
Official sources
- Study in Sweden (Swedish Institute) — Accommodation and budget
- Swedish Migration Agency — Apply for a work permit in Sweden (maintenance amounts, fees)
- Swedish Migration Agency — Apply for an extension of a work permit
- Swedish Migration Agency — Salary requirements for a work permit (median salary table)
- Swedish Migration Agency — Residence permit for studies at higher education
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The budget is a student minimum and the Migration Agency amounts are legal floors, so treat both as starting points. Information, not financial advice.