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Cost of living and student budget

Your living costs in Stockholm will depend heavily on your lifestyle and spending choices. Getting to grips with your spending will help you plan ahead. Together with our students, we will get you started on your budget.

Living costs in Stockholm

Many students think that living in Stockholm is expensive but compared to the other Scandinavian capitals, Stockholm is consistently ranked as the least expensive. Sweden generally also rank lower than other popular student destinations when it comes to living cost, such as the UK, US, Netherlands, France and Germany. 

Student budgets

As budgets can vary significantly from student to student, or current students Zi-Cing, Alexandra and Runze share their own budgets and some practical tips.

2026 budget in SEK Zi Cing Alexandra Runze
Housing 3 500 2 850 7 200
Food 2 500 2 500 3 000
Transport 650 650 300
Insurance 0 0 0
Sports and hobbies 900 3 000 1 500
Total 7 550 9 000 12 000
Zi-Cing

Zi-Cing

"Since I pay my tuition myself, I focus on essentials. Cooking, cozy gatherings with friends, and walks in nature give me a good quality of life. Having my own bathroom to my corridor room is really worth it."

Alexandra

"I share my apartment with someone else, saving me half the rent. I spend a lot of money at sports, including a gym membership and renting courts for tennis and badminton."

Runze

"Living on campus is incredibly convenient, with my classes and the metro just minutes away. My tuition covers insurance, so no additional plan is needed."

If you are a non-EU citizen applying for a residence permit, you must show the Swedish Migration Agency that you have secured financial support of at least SEK 10,584 per month. This amount is not necessarily what you have to spend during your studies. You may pay less or more depending on your lifestyle, spending choices, and financial responsibilities.

 Money-saving tips from our students

Working during studies

International students are allowed to work in Sweden, and there is no legal limit to the number of hours allowed to work while studying full time. Of course, your studies should always be your top priority. Bear in mind that if you want to work in Sweden, learning some Swedish is vital since it is often a requirement for jobs. Some students find work at KTH  during their studies as, for example, lab and teaching assistants.