Swedish Housing Costs Rise 6.9% as Bills Outpace Inflation by More Than 10 Times

Housing costs for Swedish households are at “dramatically high levels,” according to a new report from the Nils Holgersson Group, an association of housing organizations.

The costs of district heating, electricity, water, sewage and waste have risen by 6.9 percent this year.

“They have increased by more than ten times the general rate of price increases,” says Björn Berggren, pointing out that inflation over the same period was 0.6 percent.

Electricity, including costs for electricity trading, electricity networks and electricity tax, has risen the most, by 12.4 percent in one year. Waste costs are almost unchanged from last year, while water and sewage fees have risen by just over 7 percent during the year.

Still large differences

However, district heating is the biggest expense when it comes to housing costs, and a “worrying price trend” is being seen.

“Costs are increasing a lot. The rise has slowed down a bit, mainly because district heating costs have actually risen more slowly,” he says, continuing:

“But we are already at very high levels,” says Berggren.

In the last five years, the total cost of district heating, electricity, water, sewage and waste has increased by over 40 percent, according to the report. Where you live in the country also determines what your bills end up being.

“There are very large geographical differences. We are getting close to the point where it is almost twice as expensive to live in the most expensive place as in the cheapest place.”

The annual cost for a household is lowest in Piteå, at SEK 25,800. It is highest in Gnesta, where the cost amounts to SEK 45,800 per year.

May increase further

According to Berggren of the Nils Holgersson Group, politicians in particular need to consider how to prevent housing costs for Swedish households from skyrocketing.

“There need to be long-term investments and plans in place so that we do not see such extreme increases as we have now.”

The upper limit has not yet been reached, he believes.

“If I had to make a cautious guess, I think water and electricity networks can continue to run smoothly,” says Björn Berggren.

District heating costs, however, are expected to continue to rise more slowly next year. In 2025, the increase was 9.2 percent, according to the Nils Holgersson report. This year, the increase is 4.5 percent.

“Price increases for district heating are decreasing for the third year in a row and are now at a lower level than before,” says Daniel Lundqvist of Energiföretagen Sverige in a comment.