Living in Sweden

Housing costs in Sweden vary significantly depending on location. In Stockholm, to rent a one-bedroom apartment typically costs 10,000-15,000 SEK/month in the city center and 6,000-9,000 SEK in the suburbs. Gothenburg and Malmö are approximately 20-30% cheaper.

Student housing is subsidized, ranging from 3,000-5,000 SEK/month with shared facilities. Most rental properties require a queue system membership, with wait times of 5-10+ years in Stockholm (even longer in central Stockholm +20 years).

For a standard apartment (60-80m²), expect to pay approximately 600-1,200 SEK/month for electricity, heating, and water combined during warmer months. Winter costs can increase by 30-50% due to heating needs.

Internet service typically costs 300-450 SEK/month for high-speed fiber, but can be cheaper if e.g. included in the rent/fee. Most rental agreements include some utilities, so check what's covered in your contract.

Sweden has a universal healthcare system that provides affordable care to all legal residents. You'll pay a small fee per visit (typically 200-350 SEK for a doctor, 400-600 SEK for specialists), with an annual cap around 1,150 SEK. After reaching this cap, all additional care within a 12-month period is free. Prescription medications have a separate annual cap of around 2,350 SEK.

EU citizens should bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), while non-EU residents need proper residence permits to access the full system.

If you work in Sweden for less than 12 months, you must register with the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) to receive healthcare at the same rates as individuals insured in Sweden. If you work for more than 12 months, you should register as a resident in Sweden and will then receive healthcare on the same terms as Swedish citizens.

If you study in Sweden for less than 12 months, you are entitled to necessary healthcare on the same terms as those insured in Sweden, if you come from the EU/EEA or Switzerland. You must show your European Health Insurance Card (EU card). If you study for more than 12 months, you should register as a resident in Sweden and will then have full access to Swedish healthcare. 1177.se

Sweden offers free education from primary school through university for citizens and permanent residents. The system includes:

Preschool (förskola): Optional for ages 1-6, subsidized with income-based fees
Primary and lower secondary school (grundskola): Compulsory for ages 7-16
Upper secondary school (gymnasium): Optional for ages 16-19, with academic and vocational tracks
Higher education: Free tuition for EU/EEA citizens (non-EU/EEA students pay fees)

Schools provide free lunches, and international/English-language options are available in larger cities. Children of individuals who study or work in Sweden are, in almost all cases, entitled to education on the same terms as Swedish children. This applies regardless of whether the parents are from the EU/EEA or outside the EU, as long as the family is resident in Sweden or staying here for a longer period. Skolverket.se

To open a bank account in Sweden, you'll need:

1. Personal identity number (personnummer) - this is critical for most banking services
2. Valid ID (passport or national ID card)
3. Residence permit (for non-EU citizens)
4. Address verification

Major banks include Nordea, SEB, Handelsbanken, and Swedbank. Without a personnummer, banking options are limited, but some banks offer basic accounts to EU citizens with a coordination number (samordningsnummer).

Mobile banking apps and BankID (electronic identification) are widely used for daily banking and payments. EU/EEA citizens have the right to open a payment account in Sweden, even if they are not permanently resident in the country. It is not permitted for a bank to refuse someone an account solely because the person lacks a Swedish personal identity or Swedish address. Norden.org

Non-EU/EEA citizens can also apply to open a bank account, but banks have greater freedom to refuse if they cannot meet the customer due diligence and identification requirements according to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Maklarsamfundet.se

Sweden has a progressive income tax system. You'll pay:

• Municipal tax: 29-35% depending on your municipality
• State tax: An additional 20% on income above ~613,900 SEK/year
• VAT (moms): 25% on most goods and services (lower rates for food, transportation)
• Property tax: 0.75% of the assessed value (capped)

The tax agency (Skatteverket) simplifies filing with pre-filled declarations. Most residents find the high taxes reasonable considering the extensive public services provided, including healthcare, education, and social security.

Sweden experiences distinct seasons:

• Winter (November-March): Cold and dark with limited daylight (3-6 hours). Temperatures range from -5°C to -15°C in most of the country, colder in the north. Snow is common nationwide.

• Spring (April-May): Rapidly increasing daylight and temperatures from 5-15°C. Beautiful but unpredictable weather.

• Summer (June-August): Mild temperatures between 20-25°C (occasionally 30°C+). Very long days with 18+ hours of daylight. Midnight sun in the north.

• Autumn (September-October): Cooling temperatures (5-15°C) and stunning fall colors. Increasing rainfall and decreasing daylight.

Warm clothing is essential for winter, and Swedes follow the saying: "There's no bad weather, only bad clothing."

More information about the weather in Sweden can be found here.

Major grocery chains in Sweden include:

• ICA: Largest chain, with stores ranging from small (ICA Nära) to supermarket (ICA Supermarket) to hypermarket (ICA Maxi)
• Coop: Cooperative chain with various store sizes
• Willys: Budget-friendly supermarkets
• Hemköp: Mid-range supermarkets
• Lidl: German discount chain

Online grocery delivery is widely available through chain apps or services like MatHem.se. Food costs are moderate to high by European standards. Look for weekly specials (extrapriser), campaign offers and store loyalty programs for discounts. Many stores close early on weekends, and alcohol above 3.5% is only sold at government-run Systembolaget (in Swedish) stores.