Aljawaz Your guide to study abroad 
Speaking about studying in Sweden never ends. For sure, the cost of studying and living in Sweden is the most students think about when they decide to study in this country. For this reason, please let us explain it according to the official website of education in Sweden in the following lines.
Table of Contents
Cost of Studying: Tuition fees in Sweden for international students
The currency in Sweden is the Swedish Króna
USD 1 = SEK 10.61
EUR 1 = SEK 10.63
Universities’ tuition fees in Sweden
Tuition fees in Sweden ranges between 80,000 and 140,000 SEK per academic year, but it differs from a university to another. This is usually the cost you pay for a bachelor’s or a master’s degree program. As for the cost of a PhD degree, it is free in Swedish universities.
Moreover, you can visit the Swedish website in charge of university admissions to learn about the cost of any program you want to study. You just need to follow the instructions we previously referred to in our article about university admission and application in Sweden.
Students’ discount card
Students need to pay the application fees all at once, and it is about 900 SEK. Student union fees range between 50 and 350 SEK per semester, and it also varies depending on the union. This gives them access to various student activities and some student discounts. Also, there are national student cards in Sweden, such as like Mecenat or Studentkortet, that students can use to get deals and discounts in shops, online stores, gyms, restaurants, cafés…
Textbook costs
Along with the tuition fees, there are the average textbooks cost. It amounts around 750 SEK per month, while other books like law and natural sciences textbooks are more expensive. However, many student unions in Sweden organize discount fairs to sell second-hand books still in good conditions at a lower price. Moreover, some tutors and professors give summaries to their students.
Also, it is common for students to put an advertisement banner on the university’s display board asking either to exchange books or sell them at low costs. Besides that, some websites offer selling and buying services for books and references at affordable prices.
The cost of living in Sweden for students
When it comes to the living cost in Sweden for students, it is a bit expensive – at least above the European average. However, with a smarter spending, you can manage to have a decent quality of life. To cover your costs of living, you need a minimum of SEK 8,700 per month, give or take. Moreover, this total cost depends on your lifestyle, the city you are living, and the discounts you manage to earn thanks to your student status.
Students living cost per city in Sweden
Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, is also the most costly city of the country. Following on the list are Uppsala and Gothenburg. The least expensive are cities like Nykvarn and Södertälje.
Since international students most likely will enroll in the universities of these major cities, here is an overview of the average living costs you can expect.
- Gothenburg and Stockholm: around SEK 13,300 per month (EUR 1,250)
- Linköping and Lund: around SEK 9,040 per month (EUR 850)
- Uppsala: between SEK 7,980 and SEK 12,800 per month (EUR 750 and EUR 1,200)
Learn about our Top 10 Swedish universities and their official websites.
Accommodation cost in Sweden for students
Accommodation costs in Sweden range between SEK 3,600 and SEK 5,200. The best place to look for a student housing is your university or college, which often provides very useful information. Universities in Sweden can also help you get in touch with the organizations in charge of the student residence dormitories. This is the first option of accommodation, which prices range between SEK 2,600 and SEK 6,600 per month (EUR 240 – 620).
The second option is renting a private housing or sharing an apartment. The rent will cost you anywhere between SEK 3,700 and SEK 7,500 (EUR 350-700). Of course, your expenses will be higher or lower depending on the city you choose to settle in. However, the best alternative will be to share a large apartment with other students. It will give you an opportunity to socialize and get along with other students during your stay in Sweden.
For more info on the subject, read our article on how to get student accommodation and housing in Sweden
Food costs in Sweden
The other major expense students should expect to make in Sweden is their food cost. You should set aside around SEK 2,000 per month (EUR 200), depending on your eating habits. You can save money if you buy groceries from affordable supermarkets like Lidl or Willy’s.
However, eating out will cost you 8 to 12 euros (SEK 80 – SEK 120). If you pay for a three-course meal for two in an average restaurant, it will cost around 45 to 65 euros (SEK 480-690).
Transportation costs
On the matter of transportation, students in Sweden highly appreciate public transport. It is the mode of transportation used by 40% of the students in the country to get to the university or elsewhere. Public transportation fees amount around SEK 425 and SEK 586 per month (EUR 40-55).
The other option is to ride a bicycle, the way almost 30% of the students travel around in the Swedish cities. It will cost you around SEK 1,200 to get one.
Utilities and other living costs
Utility expenses in Sweden are lower since most rentals come with the Wi-Fi fees included. Actually, it is difficult for tenants in the country to sign up for an Internet service without a lease. Moreover, water and electricity are also supplied in most cases. This brings the basic utilities cost in Sweden around SEK 1,300 on average.
The other expense not to forget is the cost of healthcare. Usually, health insurance in Sweden for students will cost from EUR 30 per month. The price depends on the students’ nationality, if they are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. It depends as well on the duration of their studies in Sweden.
To help them cover the cost of living in Sweden, there are a few scholarship programs for students they can turn to. Learn more on the subject in our article about the best scholarships in Sweden.
