Sweden Budget Planning
Sweden has a reputation for being expensive — and it's partly deserved. As one of the world's highest-income countries, everyday costs are higher than in the UK. But with some planning, Sweden is entirely manageable on a moderate budget, and there are genuine bargains to be found if you know where to look.
Daily Budget Estimates
These estimates assume one person travelling, in Swedish kronor (SEK) and approximate GBP equivalent at ~13.5 SEK/£.
| Fast food / kebab / pizza | 90–130 SEK (£7–10) | Found everywhere, filling |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch at a restaurant (dagens lunch (lunch of the day)) | 120–170 SEK (£9–13) | Best restaurant value in Sweden |
| Dinner at a mid-range restaurant | 200–350 SEK (£15–26) | Main course, no drinks |
| Dinner at an upmarket restaurant | 400–800 SEK (£30–60) | Tasting menus higher |
| Beer at a bar (40cl) | 70–90 SEK (£5–7) | Craft beer slightly more |
| Glass of wine at a restaurant | 100–150 SEK (£7–11) |
The dagens lunch (lunch deal) secret: Most Swedish restaurants offer a weekday lunch deal (typically 11:00–14:00) that includes a main course, salad buffet, bread, water, and coffee for 120–170 SEK. This is how Swedes eat affordably — and the quality is often excellent. Build your main meal around lunch and eat lighter in the evening.
Self-Catering
Cooking your own meals in a hostel or stuga kitchen is the biggest money-saver:
| Item | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Loaf of bread | 25–40 SEK |
| Block of cheese (400g) | 50–70 SEK |
| Milk (1 litre) | 15–20 SEK |
| Eggs (12) | 35–50 SEK |
| Pasta (500g) | 10–20 SEK |
| Chicken breast (500g) | 50–80 SEK |
| Supermarket ready meal | 40–60 SEK |
Budget supermarkets: Lidl, Willys, and Netto offer the lowest prices. ICA and Coop are mid-range. Hemköp is more premium.
Swedish Food on a Budget — Discover affordable Swedish food traditions — from husmanskost home cooking to the art of fika — on The Table.
Alcohol
Alcohol in Sweden is significantly more expensive than in the UK, partly due to high excise taxes and the state monopoly on alcohol sales.
Systembolaget (the state alcohol retail monopoly) is the only place to buy alcohol above 3.5% ABV for home consumption. It's open Monday–Saturday (limited hours) and closed on Sundays and public holidays.
| Item | Systembolaget Price | Bar/Restaurant Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle of wine | 80–150 SEK (£6–11) | 300–500 SEK (per bottle) |
| 6-pack of beer (33cl) | 90–140 SEK | n/a |
| Single beer (40cl) | n/a | 70–90 SEK |
| Spirits (70cl) | 250–400 SEK | Per drink: 100–150 SEK |
Budget tip: If you enjoy alcohol, buy from Systembolaget rather than ordering in bars. A bottle of wine at Systembolaget costs less than a single glass at a restaurant.
Systembolaget Explained — How Sweden's state alcohol monopoly works, its history, and what to buy — on The Table.
Transport Costs
| Journey | Mode | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm airport → city (Arlanda Express) | Train | 280 SEK |
| Stockholm airport → city (Flygbussarna) | Bus | 119 SEK |
| Stockholm single journey (SL) | Metro/bus | 42 SEK |
| Stockholm 72-hour pass (SL) | Unlimited metro/bus/ferry | 330 SEK |
| Stockholm → Gothenburg (SJ train, advance) | Train | 200–450 SEK |
| Stockholm → Malmö (SJ train, advance) | Train | 250–500 SEK |
| Gotland ferry (return) | Ferry | 400–900 SEK |
| Domestic flight (booked early) | Flight | 400–1,200 SEK |
Budget tip: Book SJ train tickets as early as possible — the cheapest non-refundable fares are 50–70% less than walk-up prices. The SJ app makes it easy to find the cheapest options.
For detailed transport information, see Getting Around Sweden.
Accommodation Costs
| Type | Per Night (1 person) |
|---|---|
| STF hostel (dorm bed) | 250–400 SEK (£18–30) |
| STF hostel (private room) | 500–800 SEK (£37–60) |
| Budget hotel | 600–900 SEK (£45–67) |
| Mid-range hotel | 1,000–1,800 SEK (£75–135) |
| Airbnb (city apartment) | 700–1,500 SEK (£52–110) |
| Holiday cottage (stuga (cabin)) | 800–2,000 SEK (for entire cottage) |
| Camping (equipped site) | 200–350 SEK (pitch) |
| Wild camping (allemansrätten) | Free |
For full accommodation details, see Where to Stay.
Attractions & Activities
| Activity | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Vasa Museum, Stockholm | 190 SEK |
| ABBA The Museum, Stockholm | 310 SEK |
| Skansen Open-Air Museum | 220 SEK |
| Gothenburg Museum of Art | Free |
| National Museum, Stockholm | Free |
| Moderna Museet, Stockholm | Free |
| Northern Lights tour (Lapland) | 1,500–3,000 SEK |
| Dog sledding (half day) | 1,500–2,500 SEK |
| Kayak hire (half day) | 300–500 SEK |
Free activities in Sweden:
- Walking in any of Sweden's 30 national parks (always free)
- Swimming at any public beach, lake, or river
- Berry and mushroom picking (via allemansrätten (right of public access))
- Most Stockholm museums (National Museum, Moderna Museet, Historiska Museet)
- Cycling city bike-sharing schemes (minimal daily fee)
- Exploring Stockholm's Gamla Stan, Djurgården, and archipelago walks
Free Nature Experiences — Explore Sweden's national parks, forests, and coastlines — all free under Allemansrätten — on The Land.
Money-Saving Tips
- Eat your main meal at lunch — the dagens lunch (lunch of the day) is Sweden's best-kept value secret
- Book trains early — SJ advance fares save 50–70%
- Use the SL 72-hour card in Stockholm — unlimited metro, bus, tram, and ferry
- Shop at Lidl and Willys — budget supermarkets for self-catering
- Wild camp for free — Sweden's allemansrätten is one of its greatest gifts to visitors
- Visit free museums — Stockholm's top museums are increasingly free
- Drink coffee, not cocktails — fika is cheap; bar drinks are not
- Travel in shoulder season (May or September) — lower prices, fewer crowds, still pleasant weather
- Buy alcohol at Systembolaget — a fraction of restaurant prices
- Use hotel breakfasts strategically — fill up at the included breakfast and eat lighter for lunch
Payment & Cash
Sweden is one of the world's most cashless societies — over 80% of transactions are card-based. Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere, including market stalls and small cafés. Many businesses no longer accept cash at all.
Swish (Sweden's mobile payment app) is ubiquitous among Swedes but requires a Swedish bank account, so it's not available to most visitors.
Recommendation: Carry a Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card with no foreign transaction fees (Starling, Monzo, Wise, or similar). A small amount of cash (500–1,000 SEK) is handy as backup, but you can travel entirely cashless.
Sweden's Cashless Revolution — How Sweden became the world's most cashless economy — and what it means for visitors — on The Engine.
Sample Budgets
Budget Traveller (7 Nights)
- STF hostels with self-catering: 2,800 SEK
- Dagens lunch × 7: 1,050 SEK
- SL 72-hour card + SJ advance tickets: 800 SEK
- Free museums and nature: 0 SEK
- Miscellaneous: 1,000 SEK
- Total: ~5,650 SEK (£420)
Mid-Range Traveller (7 Nights)
- Mid-range hotels: 10,500 SEK
- Restaurant meals: 3,500 SEK
- SJ trains + SL card: 1,500 SEK
- Paid attractions: 1,000 SEK
- Miscellaneous: 2,000 SEK
- Total: ~18,500 SEK (£1,370)
For comprehensive packing advice, see our Packing Guide.