Stockholm: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Stockholm is Sweden's capital and largest city: about a million people in the city itself and about 2.4 million in the metropolitan area. It is the financial and technology hub of Northern Europe: banks, large industrial companies, startups in fintech, gaming and music services, and in Kista a technology cluster built around telecoms.

The city suits professionals with a contract from a Swedish employer, entrepreneurs with a European Union business and families who value safety, free schools and nature close by: water and forest start fifteen minutes from the centre. It is hardest for those who arrive without a job: the main barrier is housing.

Districts

• Gamla Stan - the medieval island with tourists and expensive flats; beautiful to live in but impractical.
• Östermalm - the most upmarket district: embassies, boutiques, the market hall, expensive housing.
• Södermalm - the southern island with cafés, bars and second-hand shops, favoured by creative young people.
• Vasastan and Kungsholmen - quiet central districts with parks and waterfronts, popular with families.
• Solna, Bromma, Nacka - suburbs with larger flats and houses, good schools and fast transport to the centre.
• Hammarby Sjöstad - a new eco-district on the water, pricier but more modern flats.
• Kista - the tech district in the north with telecom and IT offices, cheaper housing than the centre and about 20 minutes to the centre by metro.

Housing: the main difficulty

Long-term rentals from municipal and large private landlords are allocated through the city queue, and the average wait in 2025 was about 9 years, more than 15 in central districts. Newcomers therefore usually sublet from flat owners.

Join the queue in your first month after registration: queue time builds up over years. Check sublets especially carefully: rental scams are common in Stockholm, so pay only after signing a contract and verifying the owner.

Cost of living and taxes

A 30-day pass for the whole city network normally costs 1,060 kronor, about $106, but from 1 July to 31 December 2026 it is sold at half price. A 75-minute single ticket is 43 kronor. Groceries and restaurants cost more than in Poland or Germany, but schools, preschools at a token fee and most healthcare are covered through taxes.

Income tax combines municipal tax, about 32% on average depending on the municipality, and a 20% state tax on taxable income above 643,000 kronor a year. Corporate tax is 20.6%. A person becomes tax resident by living in the country or staying there continuously for 6 months or more.

Practicalities

• Personal identity number. After address registration the tax agency assigns a personal number if your permit is valid for at least a year. Without it, opening a bank account, getting a phone contract or seeing a doctor is hard.
• Transport. Metro, commuter trains, trams and city ferries on one ticket. Arlanda Airport is 40 kilometres away, served by an express train.
• Climate. Winter is dark: in December there are about six hours of daylight, and the average January temperature is around zero or below. Summer is short and bright, about 18 degrees in July.
• Language. Almost everyone speaks English, and Swedish is not required for IT and international companies, but it is needed for citizenship and many professions.

Moving and legal status

European Union citizens only need to register. Others move on a work permit with a contract from a Swedish employer, the EU Blue Card, study, family reunification or a residence permit for their own business. The latter requires owning at least 51% of the company and showing 200,000 kronor for living costs over two years for the main applicant, plus business capital. Permanent residence becomes possible after 2 years, and since 6 June 2026 citizenship after 8 years in the country. More on the page about the Swedish business residence permit.

Family and children

Sweden is one of the most family-friendly countries. Parents insured in the Swedish system receive 480 days of paid parental leave per child, shared between them. State schools are free, preschool fees are capped by a national ceiling, and Stockholm has international schools teaching in English. Children of foreigners with residence permits attend state schools on equal terms and get lessons in Swedish as a second language.

Foreigners face no restrictions on buying property. In Stockholm most flats are sold as the right of use in a housing cooperative: the buyer becomes a member and pays it a monthly fee, and banks usually require a permanent Swedish income for a mortgage.

Work and business

For a foreigner from outside the European Union, the work permit is arranged by the employer, who must offer a contract on terms no worse than Swedish collective agreements. For one's own business the usual choice is a limited company with minimum share capital of 25,000 kronor, about $2,490, and corporate tax is 20.6%.

Is Stockholm worth considering for life

Pros: a high standard of living, safety, a strong job market in tech and finance, free education, nature within the city and English everywhere. Cons: a housing shortage and expensive sublets, high taxes, dark winters and a long path to citizenship. Stockholm is a good choice for a professional with a contract or an entrepreneur with a working business, and a poor one for moving on spec. Write in the chat and we will find a basis for your residence permit.