Cost of Living in Sweden for International Students in 2025

Sweden has emerged as a top study abroad destination among international students. Political chaos in America and the UK's turbulent Brexit has led more international students to look at Sweden as a viable study abroad location. One of the many challenges of studying in Sweden is the high cost. Many students are faced with paying the high cost of living in Sweden or studying in an expensive university. Education loans for studying in Sweden and scholarships are just some methods to ease this burden and cost, and for Swedish students, there are some options to lower the price as well.

However, when it comes to Sweden living cost student know that the high prices come with a better lifestyle. This is evident in the improved quality of life, which is one of the best in Europe. The price is worth it for the higher standard of life - so people don’t really mind paying the extra money. So, let’s see what it cost to live in Sweden.

In this post, we’ll cover the cost of living in Sweden for Indian students. The following figures are up-to-date as of February 2024. With these figures in mind, for Sweden living cost student must be aware that these numbers are subject to change over time depending on the country’s economy.

Students wanting to study in Sweden should be prepared to pay anywhere from 700-1200 EUR/month for the average cost of living in Sweden. This is dependent on your living location. The cost of living in Sweden for Indian students in places like Gothenburg and Stockholm would come up to around 1250 EUR/month. Living in Linkoping or Lund will cost 850 EUR/month and Uppsala will be between 750 and 1,200 EUR/month.

Students have to budget for the cost of living in Sweden. They are high. The monthly expenses in Sweden are expected to be around 700-1200 EUR/month.

Cost of Accommodation in Sweden

Student accommodations are always tough to find. The best place to start is by looking at your university's student services. They will often have useful information or be able to help you contact the organizations that handle student housing (or dorms).

• Dormitories are an excellent choice for international students looking to make friends and find people with similar interests.
  
  

• The cost of living in Sweden for Indian students may vary but can range between 240-620 EUR per month.
  
  

• The second option, which is much more social than the first, is to rent an apartment with other people who are also studying abroad.
  
  

• So the average cost of living in Sweden in an apartment is around 700 EUR/month. Depending on your social needs, this might be a great alternative to feeling lonely and apart.
  
  

Cost of Transportation in Sweden

As a student in Sweden, public transport is highly appreciated. Over 40% of students use it to get to university and various locations in the city. It usually costs around 40 – 55 EUR/month. You can also choose a bike for transportation and expect to pay 120 EUR per month. 27% of students in Sweden use bikes to travel within the city.

Food Expenses in Sweden

Food costs can vary wildly depending on your habits. If you're cooking, you might spend around 200 EUR per month. If you're eating a lot of takeouts, that number could be around 300 EUR. But there are ways to reduce these costs — like shopping at affordable supermarkets like Lidl, Willy's, and stores from the suburbs.

• Eating out in Sweden, for an average meal, costs between 8 and 10 EUR.
  
  

• A three-course meal for two, in an average restaurant, may cost about 45 to 65 EUR.
  
  

• That might not seem like much to you. But for average Sweden people, it's a lot.
  
  

Other Miscellaneous Cost

• Books and other study materials: 80 EUR/month
  
  

• Social activities and entertainment: 70 – 100 EUR/month
  
  

• Health insurance: rates start at 30 EUR/month
  
  

Cost of living in Sweden for international students is expensive. But what if we told you it doesn't have to be? There are many ways to shrink the size of your bills by reducing the monthly expenses in Sweden and you can do so without sacrificing your dream of studying abroad. What are some of these ways to reduce the living expenses in Sweden for international students? Let's talk about how to decrease the expense of living as an international student.

When deciding to study abroad, the first step is to figure out what you want to study and in which university in Sweden. This includes evaluating your choice of colleges and countries and matching it to your budget.

Now, the initial requirement to be able to save money is to look at the Sweden living cost per month. From bread to beer, and cars to clothes, take a look at them all before making a purchase. 

If you're living abroad and want to keep your costs low, try student discounts. Most students don't know about these cards, but they'll thank you later when they realize how useful they are. A few helpful cards are:

1. The ISE card– This card offers college students discounts in 100,000-plus locations in more than 50 countries.
   
   

2. The ISIC card– It is a card often used by over 4 million students around the world.
   
   

3. The StuCard– With its eco-friendly, travel insurance, and student/teacher discounts, this card offers 100,000 discounts.
   
   

One way to reduce the cost of living for international students is to work for them. You may have lived a lavish life back in your home country, but living abroad can be expensive. That's why this tried-and-tested method is a good way to lighten your load. If you have classes in the morning, then you can work at night and vice versa. The downside is that if your classes are long and tiring throughout the day, then it may be difficult to find time to work on weekends.

You can get a part-time job in Sweden and make those much-needed bucks. Many countries with great schools for higher education allow you to work while studying as an international student. This means that the choice of jobs is up to you.

Suggested: Know best scholarships to study in Sweden

You can reduce your living costs by not living an overly luxurious lifestyle. Your international housing provider should have a variety of alternatives for you to choose from. It's important to note that the more comfort you want, the more expensive your study abroad program will be. Generally speaking, staying in a college-provided dorm is affordable and allows you to save your money. If you wish for an average price solution, consider getting an apartment provided by a study abroad program with other students.

Recommended: Education System in Sweden: Guide to Swedish Higher Education System

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