Is Stockholm Expensive? 2026 Prices for Visitors

Sweden is expensive by European standards, but cheaper than Denmark and Norway on Eurostat's national figures; Eurostat does not publish these figures for Stockholm itself. Eurostat's 2025 price level for household consumption was 121.0 for Sweden, where the EU average is 100. Denmark was at 139.7 and Norway at 128.6. This guide gives the visitor costs that official sources publish (price levels, SL fares, the airport trains) and the museums Visit Stockholm lists as free. Where no official figure exists, as for an average Stockholm hotel room or a restaurant meal, we don't quote one. For more ways to save, see our Stockholm on a budget guide.

Prices are in Swedish kronor (SEK).

How expensive is Stockholm? What the price statistics say

Eurostat's 2025 price levels for the four countries, with the EU average set at 100 (Eurostat):

These are national figures, not Stockholm figures. Sweden had the lowest level of the four for passenger transport services, and was close to Finland on most other lines. Alcoholic beverages were the category furthest above the EU average for Sweden, at 149.8, though still well below Finland and Norway.

Getting around: SL fares

SL runs Stockholm's buses, metro, commuter trains, trams and certain ferry lines (Visit Stockholm). Its prices for the tickets a visitor is likely to use:

*For pensioners over 65, people under 20, and full-time students with a student card carrying SL's logo. Sources: SL's pages for the single ticket, 24-hour ticket and 72-hour ticket.

• Single tickets allow unlimited journeys for 75 minutes. You can buy one by tapping a contactless Mastercard, Visa or American Express card, including one in a phone wallet, on an SL reader (SL). Visit Stockholm notes that you cannot pay cash for tickets on buses.
• 24-hour and 72-hour tickets are sold in the SL app, or loaded onto an SL card at the staffed ticket booths at metro and commuter train gates and at agents such as Pressbyrån. The time starts when you activate the ticket or first tap the card.
• Where they're valid: SL services in Stockholm County, plus commuter trains to and from Bålsta and Gnesta.
• Penalty fare: travelling without a valid ticket costs SEK 1,850 plus the price of a single ticket, SEK 43 for an adult (SL).

Whether a 24-hour ticket pays off depends on how many separate 75-minute windows you'll ride in. Compare it with the SEK 43 single before you buy. For the wider network, see Sweden transport for visitors.

From Arlanda Airport

• SL commuter train: the SL + Arlanda single ticket covers SL travel for 120 minutes plus one passage through the gates at Arlanda's station. Under-18s don't pay the Arlanda passage fee and can use an ordinary single ticket (SL).
• Arlanda Express: a non-stop 18-minute train between Arlanda and Stockholm city. Children up to 17 travel free with an adult or pensioner ticket holder (Arlanda Express).
• Coaches: Swedavia, the airport operator, lists FlixBus, Vy Flygbussarna and Vy bus4you, which arrive and depart at Terminals 4 and 5 (Swedavia). Check their own sites for fares.

Food and drink

Sweden's 2025 price level for food and non-alcoholic beverages was 109.9, against 123.4 for restaurants and accommodation. Cooking some meals yourself is the simplest lever you control; our guide to supermarkets and food in Sweden covers where to shop. If you want one restaurant meal a day, look for a weekday lunch menu (dagens rätt).

Systembolaget is Sweden's state-owned retail monopoly for alcoholic beverages; it limits access through its opening hours and number of stores (Systembolaget). See our Systembolaget guide for how buying alcohol works.

Museums: what's free

Visit Stockholm's list of free museums (Visit Stockholm) includes:

• Free every day: the City Museum (some events, such as guided tours of its apartments, need a ticket), ArkDes, the Living History Forum in the Old Town, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts' gallery. The Parliament House (Riksdagshuset) is free to visit, and the Woodland Cemetery, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is open all year free of charge.
• Free on certain days: Moderna Museet on Friday evenings, 6-8 pm, and Nationalmuseum on Thursday evenings, 5-8 pm, both in spring and autumn but not in summer; Liljevalchs on Mondays; Bonniers Konsthall on Fridays.
• Free for children and young people: the Vasa Museum and Vrak (Museum of Wrecks) for everyone up to and including 18; Skansen for children aged 0-15, who need to book a free ticket before their visit.

Visit Stockholm notes that this is subject to change and suggests checking each museum's website before you go.

Is a city pass worth it?

Only if you'll visit several paid attractions each day. Add up the entry prices of the places you actually plan to see, take out any that are free on your days, and compare the total with the pass price on the seller's site.

Where to stay

We did not find an official average room price for Stockholm, so this guide doesn't quote a nightly rate. Sweden's price level for restaurants and accommodation, 123.4, was below Denmark's 142.0 and Norway's 139.7. Our where to stay in Stockholm guide covers the neighbourhoods; compare current rates for your dates on Booking.com.

Paying and getting VAT back

• If a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency instead of kronor, choose kronor and let your own card do the conversion. A multi-currency card such as Wise is one option; check what your card charges for spending in SEK.
• VAT refund: if you live outside the EU (and Norway) and are leaving the EU, you can get a VAT refund through Global Blue on items bought in Sweden. Keep Global Blue's tax-free form and your receipts, and have your passport, ticket and the items ready. At Arlanda, a post box in Terminal 5 takes stamped forms when the counters are closed (Swedavia).

Good to know before you go

• Price level: Sweden 121.0 in 2025 against an EU average of 100; Denmark 139.7, Norway 128.6.
• Transport: SL single SEK 43 for 75 minutes; 24-hour SEK 180; 72-hour SEK 360. Tap a contactless card for singles.
• Penalty fare: SEK 1,850 plus the single fare.
• Airport: SL commuter train with an SL + Arlanda ticket SEK 200; Arlanda Express SEK 340 for an adult.
• Free museums: the City Museum, ArkDes and the Living History Forum every day; Moderna Museet and Nationalmuseum on certain evenings in spring and autumn.

Fares and free-entry days change, so check SL, Arlanda Express and Visit Stockholm, linked above, before you travel.