Cost of Living in Sweden for International Students 2022-23
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Cost of Living in Sweden for International Students 2022-23

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Updated on Nov 21, 2022 11:59 IST

Over the years, Sweden has emerged as a top study abroad destination among Indian Students. With political chaos brimming in the United States of America and the United Kingdom sailing through a rough economic patch, destinations such as Sweden have witnessed a greater international student footfall.

State of the art universities complete with modern facilities is what make the top universities in Sweden a big hit among Indian students. Flexible immigration policies such as part-time work optionspost-study work options, and a student-friendly environment make Sweden a hot education hub among international students.

Also Read:

Student Guide to Sweden

MBA in Sweden

Pursue Masters from Sweden

Pursue Bachelors from Sweden

One of the major drawbacks of studying in Sweden is the high cost of pursuing your education abroad. This could either be because of paying the high cost of studying in the country or living in an expensive place and thus high living costs.  Education loans for studying in Sweden and scholarships are other methods of easing this burden cost of studying abroad and in this case in Sweden.

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However, students going to Sweden know that the high cost of living in Sweden is because of the improved lifestyle, which is one of the best in Europe. Hence, people do not really mind paying the extra money for a higher standard of life.








Cost of Living in Sweden

Today we are going to talk about the cost of living in Sweden for international students. Candidates should note that these are the latest figures as of July 2022. However, these figures are bound to fluctuate depending on the economic situation of the country when the student is actually planning to enter the country for their education.







Students requiring a residence permit must, by law, demonstrate that they have funds of at least 855 EUR (SEK 8,694) per month of study. Many international students get by on a budget somewhere in between the required 821 EUR (SEK 8,568) per month and the Swedish student loan amount, depending on their lifestyle. Students wanting to study in Sweden should be ready to pay anything between 700 ā€“ 1,400 EUR/month as living costs. This amount is mainly influenced by your accommodation location and factors revolving around it. While living in cities such as Gothenburg and Stockholm is going to cost you around 1,250 EUR/month, living in Linkoping and Lund would come up to around 850 EUR/month and Uppsala would be between 750 and 1,200 EUR/month.

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Particulars

Average price

Accommodation

345 ā€“ 670 EUR/month

Food

440 EUR/month

Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)

76 EUR/month

Internet

28 EUR/month

Swedish Restaurant

11 - 23 EUR

3-Course Meal

47 - 76 EUR

Drink in a Bar

9 EUR

Books and other study materials

80 EUR/month

Social activities and entertainment

70 ā€“ 100 EUR/month

Health insurance

start at 30 EUR/month

Public transportation fares

77 EUR/month

Bicycle for transport

110 EUR

Job Sectors in Sweden

Sweden is the global leader in terms of having a healthy job market, and it offers a high standard of living and strong workers' rights for both citizens and foreign nationals alike. For international students, remaining in the country after graduation is the most common way to secure a job. The second most popular way is to get a job is to apply to an MNC from your home country. Know more about the popular job sector in Sweden, here.

Also Read:

Economic Overview of Sweden

Sweden Student Visa Guide

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Country Comparison: France, Ireland, Netherlands and Sweden

Cost of Living in Sweden FAQs

Q. Is Sweden an expensive country?

A. The cost of living in Sweden is around $1,400. This is 1.5 times the world average. Broadly, speaking, Sweden is an expensive country as compared to destinations like Canada.

Q. Which is the most expensive city in Sweden?

A. Stockholm is the most expensive city in Sweden. As per the Mercer Cost of Living Index 2022, Stockholm ranks at 87th position out of 227 cities in the world.

Q. Is accommodation in Sweden expensive?

A. Yes. You can expect to shell out anywhere between 4,000 to 14,000 SEK per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Q. What is the minimum average monthly expenditure in Sweden for an international student?

A. You expenditure depends on a variety of factors that include your lifestyle. However, you need to be ready to spend at least SEK 8,694 per month on an average.  As per the latest exchange rate, this translates to INR 65,828.

Q. How can I reduce my overall cost of living in Sweden as an international student?

A. In order to reduce your overall cost of living in Sweden, you can choose to apply for a scholarship and/ or work part-time.

Q. How much do I have to spend on groceries, food, and transportation on a monthly basis?

A. You can expect to spend around 800 SEK on a monthly basis on groceries and food. We suggest that you find grocery stores that offer discounts and have relatively stable prices for commodities. As for transportation, students must opt for transportation cards. These allow you to travel with ease and at lesser cost. They might cost you around 600 SEK.

Q: Ā  Is it hard to get into KTH Sweden?

A:

For international students, getting admission into KTH Royal Institute of Technology is moderately difficult. KTH Royal Institute of Technology has an acceptance rate of 32% for Masters programs and merely 7% for bachelor's program. This figure indicates that on an average, only 32 out of 100 applicants get admitted into KTH for pursuing a postgraduate course, whereas only 7 secure an admission in the undergraduate course. Currently, international students comprise 30% of the total student population (13,500) of KTH. Aspirants interested in studying at KTH, need to have a minimum academic score of above 60% and an IELTS score of 6.5. 

Q: Ā  How much will it cost to study in Sweden?

A:

The cost of studying Sweden will depend on the type of course and level of study. In public universities in Sweden, the tuition fee for domestic and international students may vary. However, below we have given the average tuition fee for the popular courses in Sweden.

Course

Average 1st Year Cost

Average Tuition Fees

MS

Rs 12.48 Lakhs

Rs 10.57 Lakhs

MIM

Rs 10.83 Lakhs

Rs 8.92 Lakhs

BBA

Rs 9.45 Lakhs

Rs 7.54 Lakhs

BE/BTech

Rs 10.76 Lakhs

Rs 8.85 Lakhs

MFA

Rs 18.82 Lakhs

Rs 16.91 Lakhs

MArch

Rs 18.39 Lakhs

Rs 16.48 Lakhs

BHM

Rs 8.88 Lakhs

Rs 6.97 Lakhs

 

Q: Ā  Is Sweden expensive for Indian students?

A:

Sweden is generally very expensive to live. The cost of living in Sweden is very high in comparison to other European countries. Below we have given the average cost of living in Sweden.

Particulars

Expenses

Accommodation

345 – 670 EUR/month

Food

440 EUR/month

Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)

76 EUR/month

Internet

28 EUR/month

Swedish Restaurant

11 - 23 EUR

3-Course Meal

47 - 76 EUR

Drink in a Bar

9 EUR

Books and other study materials

80 EUR/month

Social activities and entertainment

70 – 100 EUR/month

Health insurance

start at 30 EUR/month

Public transportation fares

77 EUR/month

Bicycle for transport

110 EUR

Q: Ā  How can I get a study visa for Sweden?

A:

Study visa for Sweden has been broadly divided into two different types of visas a person can apply for when planning to go to Sweden. A person intending to travel to Sweden for recreational purposes would apply for a Schengen Visa. This is essentially a visa that is valid for three months. Since all visa applications are sent to Sweden, the student visa is processed in about 90 days. However, it might take longer and you are advised to start the process as soon as possible.

Q: Ā  What are the top 5 universities of Sweden?

A:

Sweden has some of the best universities in the world. Here we have listed top 5 universities in Sweden as per the QS world university rankings for 2024. 

University

QS World University Rankings 2024

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

#73

Lund University

#85

Uppsala University

#105

Stockholm University

#118

Chalmers University of Technology

#129

Q: Ā  How many universities are in Sweden?

A:

In total, there are just 39 universities in the whole of Sweden. Here we have listed all the 39 universities in Sweden.

Universities in Sweden

Blekinge Institute of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology

Dalarna University

Halmstad University

Johannelund School of Theology

Jonkoping University

Karlstad University

Karolinska Institute

Konstfack, University of Arts, Crafts and Design

Kristianstad University

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Linkoping University

Linnaeus University

Lulea University of Technology

Lund University

Malardalen University

Malmo University

Marie Cederschiold University

Mid Sweden University

The Newman Institute

Orebro University

Royal College of Music

Royal Institute of Art

Sodertorn University of Stockholm

Sophiahemmet University

Stockholm School of Economics

Stockholm University

Stockholm University of the Arts

Swedish Defence University

Swedish Red Cross University

The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Umea University

University of Boras

University College Stockholm

University of Gavle

University of Gothenburg

University of Skovde

University West

Uppsala University

Q: Ā  What is the cost of study visa in Sweden?

A:

Sweden Study Visa fee for Residence Permit for Study purposes for Sweden is SEK 1,500 at the current exchange rate. Students are required to make an online payment for the same by using a Visa or a MasterCard. (Both Credit and Bank/Debit Cards are acceptable).

Q: Ā  How can I get PR in Sweden after studying?

A:

Getting Permanent Residency (PR) in Sweden is a bit complicated. Completing graduation in Sweden generally do not lead to PR. However, student permit for PhD generally lead to permanent residency. After completing graduation international students need to continuously seek for employment.

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