Daily costs per person in SEK. Stockholm is pricey but free museums, lunch deals, and archipelago beaches keep it accessible.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: SEK (Krona) (1 USD ≈ 10.5 SEK)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 250–450 SEK | 800–1,500 SEK | 2,500+ SEK | Hostels → boutique hotels → waterfront hotels |
| Food | 100–200 SEK | 250–450 SEK | 700+ SEK | Pressbyrån & kebabs → lunch deals → fine dining |
| Transport | 0–50 SEK | 100–150 SEK | 300+ SEK | Walking → SL pass → taxis |
| Activities | 0–100 SEK | 200–400 SEK | 600+ SEK | Free museums → paid attractions → archipelago trips |
| Drinks | 50–100 SEK | 150–250 SEK | 400+ SEK | Systembolaget & cheap bars → craft beer → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | 400–900 SEK | 1,500–2,750 SEK | 4,500+ SEK | $38–86 → $143–262 → $429+ |
Money-saving tips
Free museums
Moderna Museet, Historiska Museet, Naturhistoriska Museet, and Medeltidsmuseet are all free. Stockholm has more free world-class museums than almost any city.
Pressbyrån lunches
Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven do meal deals — sandwich, drink, and fruit for 59–75 SEK. Restaurant lunches are 115–175 SEK. Supermarket ICA has excellent ready meals.
Systembolaget strategy
Alcohol in Sweden is only sold at state-run Systembolaget stores (closed Sundays). Buy wine (55–90 SEK) and beer (15–25 SEK per can) before evenings out. Bar prices: 75–95 SEK/beer, 145–195 SEK/cocktail.
SL travel pass
SL 72-hour pass (315 SEK) covers unlimited metro, bus, tram, and commuter ferries. Single tickets are 39 SEK. The pass pays for itself in 8 trips.
Lunch deals
Many restaurants offer "dagens lunch" (daily lunch) for 115–145 SEK — a main course with salad, bread, and coffee included. This is how Swedes eat affordably.
Free island swimming
Swim at Långholmen (island beach), Tanto (city beach), or Smedsudden — all free. The water is clean and locals swim from May to September.
