Sweden is a nation in Scandinavia that is graced with thousands of inland lakes and coastal islands, not to mention the glaciated mountains and the huge boreal forests. The most prominent sites that Sweden is famously known for include the Southwestern Gothenburg, the Eastern Capital Stockholm, and the Malmo, all of which are coastal.
Stockholm has been built on 14 islands and hosts the famous old town known as Gamla Stan along with famous museums like the open-air Skansen.
That being said, there’s a lot to know about Sweden with regard to its living costs. For anyone who secures a job in Sweden, it’s important to know that the salaries earned in most of the workplaces are high which is an advantage. The cost of living, however, is also directly proportional to the high pay that people receive as living in Sweden is costly.
An Overview Of The Cost Of Living In Sweden
The question has been constantly asked whether Sweden is the most expensive travel destination in Europe. To answer that question, it’s essential to analyze the cost of living based on the daily basic elements that an individual needs in order to have an average comfortable lifestyle.
Here’s an analysis of some of the daily basic necessities and the estimated costs of each of them:
- Housing
The cost of housing varies from house to house based on the place where you choose to rent. Housing, however, accounts for one of the largest expenses. There has been an upsurge in rental prices owing to a 1% increase annually made by landlords in the recent past.
These increased prices have been triggered by the growing demand from foreigners who are moving into the country in search of greener pastures leading to high demand for accommodation. Landlords take advantage of this and hike up prices in a bid to exploit this demand to drive in more profits.
This high demand for accommodation has also led people, particularly those who have already rented apartments to do what is known as subletting. This means that someone whose name appears on the lease agreement leases out a room in the house to, say, a foreigner visiting the country who is in need of accommodation.
Subletting may be a cheaper option although it comes with numerous limitations and challenges such as not settling in as comfortably as you would like or having the freedom or privacy that you would otherwise have if you are the primary lessee of the house.
- Food And Beverages
Grocery prices are generally high in Sweden owing to the small scale farming done in the country. Only 7% of the land has been used in cultivating crops and only 2% of the people in the country have been employed to work in the agriculture sector.
As such, most Sweden natives have embraced the culture of cooking and eating from home. This has become a loved social activity that serves to unite families. Eating out in restaurants is deemed to be more expensive and the locals do it less often. You can spend around 100SEK or 10 USD to eat a cheap meal outside. A proper dinner date with drinks will cost roughly around 900 SEK or 90 USD.
A more pocket-friendly option then would be to cook in bulk from home and then spread the meal over a few days.
- Utility Expenses
Utility prices in Sweden are quite affordable and easy to cater for. Any foreigner traveling to this country and having an average income will be able to cater for these costs with minimal strain. Most rental houses come with accessible free Wi-Fi. Electricity and water are also available.
The monthly cost of these utilities is around 900 SEK or 900 USD in cheaper cities such as Uppsala and Malmo. You’ll, however, pay a little bit more if you settle in the capital city, Stockholm. Generally, the cost there averages around 1300 SEK or 130 USD.
- Cost Of Transport
Sweden has a large landmass coverage of 173,000 square miles. The most common mode of transportation is by train, bus, or car. Using a car is more expensive owing to the high gas prices which are heavily taxed.
Traveling by train or bus is a more convenient option. These two travel options operate on a regular basis and cover many stops allowing passengers to move around the country with ease.
Conclusion
The answer to the question of whether Sweden is the most expensive travel destination in Europe is, ‘Yes it is’. However, there are multiple benefits that you can take advantage of such as high salaries and a robust medical care system.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Here are deeper, more elaborate details on the cost of living in Sweden.
