Buying an apartment in Sweden and Stockholm in 2026
Almost every city flat in Sweden is a share in a housing cooperative: the board approves the buyer and must consent to letting. A square metre in Stockholm costs about $9,200.
In short
- A square metre in Stockholm averages about $9,200; the national average is about $4,700.
- Most city flats are shares in housing cooperatives, and the board approves the buyer.
- A cooperative share carries no stamp duty; a house carries 1.5% of the price.
- From 1 April 2026 mortgages go up to 90% of the value.
- A flat gives no residence.
In detail
Sweden sells flats to foreigners without permits or quotas, but almost always what you buy is not a flat but a share in a housing cooperative. The board approves the buyer, and such a flat can only be let with its consent. A square metre in Stockholm costs about $9,200. The full review is on the page investment property in Sweden; here is the short answer.
How much a flat in Sweden costs in 2026
Average prices of cooperative flats in summer 2026:
| City | Per square metre |
|---|---|
| Stockholm | ~$9,200 |
| Central Stockholm | ~$13,000 |
| Gothenburg | ~$5,300 |
| Malmö | ~$3,700 |
| National average | ~$4,700 |
The average flat in the country costs about $300,000, and prices rose almost 5% over the year. A 60 m² flat in Stockholm costs about $550,000.
Cooperative, ownership or house
- A flat in a housing cooperative: this is how most city flats are sold. You buy a share with the right of use, pay a monthly fee, and the board approves you as a new member.
- An owned flat: a form available since 2009, rarely seen.
- A house with land: ownership is registered by the state land survey authority.
Before buying a share, read the cooperative's annual report. The cooperative's debts are your future monthly fee, just without your signature yet.
Taxes and costs of buying a home in Sweden
- A cooperative share: no stamp duty.
- A house or owned flat: stamp duty of 1.5% of the price or last year's assessed value, whichever is higher, plus about $85. On a house at the national average price that is about $6,200.
- A new mortgage deed: 2% of its amount plus about $40.
A house owner pays a municipal fee of 0.75% of the assessed value, no more than $1,100 a year in 2026. Rental income is taxed at 30% after a deduction of about $4,100 a year and 20% of the rent. A gain on sale is taxed at an effective 22%.
A cooperative share: debts and the board matter more than price
In Sweden the most common mistakes involve the cooperative: debts in the annual report push up the monthly fee, the board refuses the buyer or forbids letting, and the 10% deposit has already been paid. With a house the risk is different: mortgage deeds and encumbrances in the register. We read the cooperative's statutes and annual report, check the register, prepare the contract and power of attorney, handle board approval or registration of ownership, and calculate stamp duty and taxes.
The cost of support depends on the property and the form of ownership; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
How to buy a flat in Sweden: step by step
- Viewing and open bidding. Bids bind neither the buyer nor the seller.
- Checks: for a cooperative, the statutes, annual report and debts; for a house, the land register extract.
- Contract and deposit, usually 10%.
- Approval by the cooperative board, or registration of ownership.
From 1 April 2026 Swedish banks lend up to 90% of the value, but rarely to non-residents without Swedish income.
Does a flat give residence in Sweden
No. Residence comes through work, business, study or family, for example through the Sweden startup visa. Russian citizens need a Schengen visa to travel for viewings, and the deal can be handled through a representative under a power of attorney.
FAQ
Can a foreigner buy a flat in Sweden?
How much does a flat in Stockholm cost in 2026?
What stamp duty is paid when buying a home in Sweden?
Can you let a cooperative flat in Sweden?
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Does buying a flat give residence in Sweden?
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