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.
