A stunning archipelago capital that mints tech unicorns per capita like nowhere else in Europe. The catch is legendary: the rental queue system makes housing a puzzle.
What it costs to live in Stockholm
Rent here sits close to the national baseline for Sweden, at roughly EUR 1,100 a month for a one-bed. That puts Stockholm in the most expensive tenth of the 60 EU cities we profile, with 11 cities above it.
Against a typical net salary in Sweden of about EUR 2,700, that is roughly 41% of take-home pay going on rent alone. City wages usually run above the national figure, so treat this as the cautious end.
What the economy runs on
Tech (Spotify, Klarna heritage), finance, design.
The combination that makes Stockholm work for a lot of people is a country that is comfortable with remote and freelance workers paired with rent that does not dominate the budget.
How far English gets you
English is effectively a working language in Stockholm: work, healthcare, banking and a social life are all available in English alone.
Stockholm rates 90/100 for English, broadly in line with Sweden as a whole at 92/100. There is a fuller breakdown on the English in Sweden page.
What day-to-day life leans on
If you are moving with children, Sweden scores 82/100 for schooling, and international schools cluster in cities like Stockholm.
Worth weighing
The rental system is opaque; first-hand contracts take years.
Stockholm is the most expensive of the cities we cover in Sweden, so it is worth pricing the alternatives before you commit: Gothenburg (about EUR 880 a month).
City picked, country still open? See the full Sweden overview including cost of living, safety, healthcare and the path to residence, or compare Sweden with other EU countries.