A month in Stockholm, in numbers
| Item | Monthly (SEK) | Approx. EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Student housing room | 4,500-7,500 | 400-670 |
| Food | 2,500-3,500 | 220-310 |
| Transport (SL student pass) | 600-700 | 55-65 |
| Phone and internet | 200-350 | 18-31 |
| Personal and other | 1,000-1,800 | 90-160 |
| Total | 9,000-13,000 | 800-1,150 |
Housing — arrange it before you go
The Swedish rental market runs on queues, so "I will find something when I get there" does not work. What does:
- 1The university's housing offer. Many Swedish universities guarantee or prioritise accommodation for fee-paying international students. If an offer comes, accept it immediately.
- 2Student housing associations — join and start accumulating queue points as early as possible.
- 3Subletting (andrahand) is common, and so is fraud. Check that the primary tenant actually has permission to sublet.
- 4Södertälje, Huddinge, Solna and Sundbyberg are realistic commuting options.
The universities
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology — Sweden's leading engineering school
- Stockholm University — sciences, social sciences, humanities
- Karolinska Institutet — medicine and health sciences
Work — the rule changed
⚠️ For residence permits granted on or after 11 June 2026, student work is capped at 15 hours a week, with work directly connected to your studies excepted. Sweden previously had no formal hour limit, so older blog posts and agents are wrong on this. Check Migrationsverket's own page for the current position.
Stockholm's real advantage is different anyway: English-language internships and thesis projects in the technology sector, which are worth far more than a generic part-time job.
The honest bits
- 1Housing is the main risk, not the cost.
- 2The krona moves — keep margin in your budget.
- 3Long, dark winters.
- 4On the other side: English everywhere, a strong technology sector, and a post-study permit for job-seeking.
Before you fly
- 1Say yes to any university housing offer immediately.
- 2Read the universityadmissions.se walkthrough.
- 3Read the Sweden residence permit guide.
Official sources — check for yourself
- Study in Sweden — official portal
- Migrationsverket — higher education residence permit
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Rules and figures change. We review these articles periodically and show the date above, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source before you act on it.
Common questions
How much does a student need per month in Stockholm?+
Typically SEK 9,000-13,000, about EUR 800-1,150. A student housing place keeps you at the lower end; a private sublet pushes you well above it.
How many hours can students work in Sweden?+
For residence permits granted on or after 11 June 2026, 15 hours a week, with work directly linked to your studies excepted. There was previously no formal limit, so older sources are wrong — check Migrationsverket's own page.
How hard is it to find housing in Stockholm?+
The hardest in Sweden. The rental market runs on queues, so planning to search after arrival does not work. Accept any university housing offer immediately and join a student housing association's queue as early as you can.
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