Cost of Living in Sweden

Rent in Sweden

A 3-room rental apartment in Sweden cost SEK 9,528 a month on average in 2026, according to Statistics Sweden (SCB). A 1-room apartment cost SEK 5,640, a 2-room apartment SEK 7,742 and an apartment with 4 rooms or more SEK 12,158. The rents include heating and water, but not household electricity or parking. They cover rental apartments (hyresrätter), not homes people own.

Rents are higher in the big city regions. A 3-room apartment cost SEK 10,600 a month in Greater Stockholm and SEK 10,825 in Greater Malmö, against SEK 8,470 in municipalities with fewer than 75,000 inhabitants. Greater Stockholm is about 11% above the national average. Rents rose 3.3% in 2026, after 4.6% in 2025 and 5% in 2024.

In 2025, 10.8% of people in Sweden lived in a household that spent more than 40% of its disposable income on housing, against 7.6% in the EU, according to Eurostat. The Riksbank raised its policy rate from 1.75% to 2.00% on 4 November 2026, with effect from 11 November, which matters for anyone with a mortgage. The next decision is due on 16 December 2026.

Consumer prices and inflation

Swedish consumer prices were 1.1% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to SCB. KPIF, the measure the Riksbank targets, rose 1.5%, up from 0.7% in August. Without energy it rose 0.5%. SCB says higher electricity and fuel prices pushed inflation up. Electricity was 17% dearer than a year earlier and fuel 20%, while food was 6.5% cheaper and local public transport 25.8% cheaper. On the harmonized EU measure, Swedish inflation was 1%, against 3.8% in the euro area.

Price levels are above the EU average. Eurostat puts Swedish consumer prices at 128.4 in 2025, with the EU average at 100, so prices were about 28% above the EU average. Information and communication (137.5) and clothing and footwear (129.6) stood furthest above the EU, housing, water and energy were at 121.7 and food at 109.9.

Household spending

SCB's household budget survey shows where the money goes. In 2021, housing, water, electricity and fuel took 22.3% of household spending, transport 15.1% and food 13.8%. SCB changed the survey design in 2021 and publishes these figures as development statistics, not official statistics. The next results are due on 7 June 2027.

The Swedish Consumer Agency (Konsumentverket) also calculates reasonable living costs each year. For 2026 it puts food for a family of 2 adults and 2 children aged 5 and 9 at SEK 8,440 a month. Its calculations cover about 40% of household costs, such as food, clothing and internet, and leave out housing and transport.

Transport, utilities and local taxes

Heating and water are part of the rent in the SCB figures, so tenants pay household electricity on top. We found no official national public transport fare. Local public transport prices in the consumer price index were 25.8% lower in September 2026 than a year earlier. In Stockholm, a 30-day SL ticket costs SEK 530 for an adult at the temporary half price, which can be bought until 2 December 2026.

Municipal income tax goes to the municipality and region where a person lives. The average total municipal tax rate is 32.38% in 2026, from 28.93% in Österåker to 35.65% in Dorotea.

What it means for pay and hiring

The median monthly salary in Sweden was SEK 38,300 in 2025 and the average SEK 42,900, according to SCB. The national average rent for a 3-room apartment, SEK 9,528, is 24.9% of that median, and a 2-room apartment 20.2%. In Greater Stockholm a 3-room apartment takes 27.7%. Check where the person will live when you set pay: an offer that works in a smaller town leaves less after rent in Stockholm or Malmö. See average salary in Sweden for pay by sector and occupation, our guide to hiring in Sweden for employer costs and rules, and our cost of living in Stockholm page for the capital. Sweden has no statutory minimum wage.

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