Having just had my wallet and budget for Copenhagen torn to pieces I was ever so cautious landing in Stockholm for a few days. Sweden was to be the turning point for my major expenses but that didn’t mean I could just cut loose as I knew all too well if things got crazy here I’d spend my entire time in the Baltic States making up for it.
Again greeted with yet another new currency to learn in the Swedish Krona. Only slightly more expensive than the Danish Krone but still just as confusing to work out how much things were really costing me until it was too late. Luckily I made a point of visiting the supermarkets here and cooking as much as possible to try and help offset the costs. Having not had much in the way of cooking facilities to date I was determined to make the most of the small kitchenette this hostel called a cooking area.
| Day | Transport | Hostel | Attractions | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Misc | Total SK | Total $AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | 250 | – | 49 | 73 | 59 | 30 | 461 | 70.84 |
| 2 | – | 250 | 215 | 34 | 25 | 110 | 180 | 814 | 125.08 |
| 3 | – | 250 | 210 | – | 59 | 55 | 40 | 614 | 94.35 |
| 4 | 952 | 250 | – | – | 62 | 50 | 155 | 1469 | 225.73 |
| 5 | 40 | – | – | – | – | 53 | 262 | 355 | 54.55 |
Transport
Transport in Stockholm was all on me as I walked everywhere. Sure it might of taken me forever to walk out to see the Vasa Museum and Skansen but the alternative was to spend money and I was going to save anywhere possible. My only expense in this area was the 952 SK ticket on the night ferry to Helsinki. I booked last minute of course and got lucky actually getting a spot, next time I’ll pre-book that one to save a few bucks.
Hostel
Hostels in Stockholm are EXPENSIVE like really EXPENSIVE, 250SK a night is almost $40 AUD. If I ever come back I’m going to be making as many couchsurfing friends as possible because while my hostel was nice and all the cramped space just didn’t warrant that kind of cost. Especially when there was no laundry facilities, and the 3 showers sandwiched in behind the tiny kitchen area seemed like they were really baths just with no sides on them as they flooded the floor so often.
Attractions
I skipped getting the local tourist attraction card as while it would have allowed entry to the majority of the museums and sights, the up front cost was too much to try and see everything in the few days I had. Instead I fronted up for the following sights in town. Stockholm Palace (Combo Ticket 140SK) the Armoury (75SK not really worth it) along with the Vasa Museum (110SK), Skansen (100SK).
Food
Food in Stockholm was very much of the supermarket variety. I grabbed small things here and there while out exploring but at the end of the day there was always a visit to the supermarket down the road for supplies. Sure a roll with a bit of meat and cheese isn’t much but when its costing you 1/4 of what lunch cost, you do it.
I was also lucky on my second last night to have a big cook up with a couple of new friends after they found out what I had planned to cook. God bless those lovely dutch doctors as it was the best feed I’d had for awhile.
Miscellaneous
How does 150 SK ($17 AUD) for someone to shave your head and call it a haircut sound? or 100SK ($11.41 AUD) to pay the only known laundrymat in all of central Stockholm for a wash and dry? oh and don’t get me started on the cost of booze. In its defence the night I caught the ferry to Helsinki shouldn’t count as it was always going to be expensive.
Otherwise the beer consumption was kept to a minimum as it was just too expensive to warrant it. I had finally found a place that for the most part I couldn’t bring myself to spend that much money on a beer, especially when I knew it was going to be nice and cheap in Estonia.
Total Cost for Stockholm
Five days in Stockholm came in at a total of 3713 Swedish Krona or 570.55 AUD (at an exchange rate of 6.5 Krona = 1 AUD). The average was just on 742 Krona ($114 AUD) a day which again made my planned budget look like a shy boy attempting to ask the hot girl out on a date.
Sure Copenhagen was more expensive but while there I lashed out on everything from meals to seeing sights I wouldn’t normally have done. Stockholm I was cautious, only spending when needing too and always looking for the cheaper option. Had I spent the same here as back in Denmark… well it would have been a budget disaster.
To compare the costs to today’s exchange rate, leaving Australia now (November 2014) it would cost you $573.67 AUD. Yes you are reading that right, even some years later the exchange rate is just the same as what I had then.
Did I enjoy Stockholm? oh yes indeedy. Starting with the train ride up from Copenhagen to the ferry following along the coast as I left the country you can’t deny Sweden is a beautiful country. I honestly wish I’d had more time and money to have stopped off along the way to Stockholm or even venture up past it for awhile.
Alas it wasn’t to be so I think that will all have to wait for another time when I can really sink my teeth into what Scandinavia has to offer. Who’s up for Norway, Sweden and Finland next year??
Note: Some costs for the first day were converted from Danish Krone for uniform pricing.
Hot damn Chris you need to come to South America and save yourself some money!
haha Ayngelina trust me things do get better, South America will always be there waiting for me.
My husband was just in Gothenburg, and he said that alcohol was ruinously expensive. His handball team barely even celebrated its victory over Australia (sorry!) because going out cost them so much.
Oh Emily you can’t talk about beating an aussie team on an aussie’s blog haha just kidding. I do however feel somewhat satisfied that they couldn’t celebrate after beating us 🙂
Sweden is many great things but it is not a place to go and drink beers thats for sure.
Ooh, this is pretty timely for me. I’m thinking about going to Stockholm over Easter. I knew it would be expensive, but that’s a LOT of money (converts to just over €425). Mind you, it’s not like I have either the time or the opportunity to spend my money elsewhere while I’m working as hard as I am at the moment, so what the hell – I should probably just go crazy for 4 days!
haha Katja I’d go with going crazy too 🙂
I’m hanging out in Sweden these days so come visit! Also planning a little trip to Norway in the spring, and maybe a return trip to Finland before June. If you can escape that work thing that has got a hold on you, and bail on that next year idea…
Dustin if I had the money to escape this work thing I’d be coming to visit in a heartbeat.
Really good budget Chris. I’d expect Sweden to be really expensive but to do it for $114 AUD a day not too bad at all, considering you have a big transport component. Good info. Meantime I’ll just potter around Namibia at half the price.
Cheers Jim. I did miss the going out and drinking sides of Stockholm but overall I think I did well and yes there was that ferry ride which inflated the costs a great deal.
I had no idea how expensive Stockholm was….
It kind of took me by surprise Alexis and I was expecting it. Still its a beautiful place to visit so worth it even for a few days.
This is why I don’t want to travel to Sweden. $$$
lol Brooke then what are you doing in OZ its almost as bad 🙂
As far as i know, Stockholm its one of the most expensive city from Europe. You can have either a short trip, but educative, but also you can get some surprises when its about rents, food , visiting places. I believe that this is a reason, of the good economy from Sueden. Its really impressionant how you can get some good results with some few pennys, sometimes, but not being to able to buy even a water when you are there.
Congratulations! You have done very well.
I spent the last eight months in Europe: six months on a Fulbright in Kosovo and two months traveling (hit 20 countries!). When it comes to expensive, nothing in Europe can beat Oslo. Zurich is also very high, probably as much or more than Stockholm and Copenhagen. Of the larger cities I visited, Istanbul and Barcelona top the list; for smaller, Prague and Florence. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog…keep posting!
Good read, thanks for the information.
I’m planning to do Reykjavik, Copenhagen and Stockholm this March. I am a little concerned about the fundage, but it can be done for relatively cheap.
This was a really great post. As an Aussie living in Sweden I know all too well how expensive it can be. Some extra tips for Stockholm: go for a “dagens” lunch (lunch of the day). Usually it’s a choice of 3 dishes, a meat dish, a chicken dish and a vegetarian dish, salad, coffee and a soft drink is included. Cost is between 70-90kr ($12-15). Then for dinner get supermarket food or go for the 10kr menu at Mcdonalds. In Stockholm some pubs (especially just south of the city on Södermalm) have 35kr ($6) beer specials but overall it’s pretty expensive so unless you get invited to a party or something then skip the alcohol and drink coffee instead, Swedes are not big drinkers (unless it’s midsummer or bonfire night when they turn into BIG drinkers). Couch surfing is definitely the way to go for accommodation. If you want to stay in a hotel then come on the weekend as prices are lower.
Hey Chris,
Im heading over to Sweden for a while and can’t seem to pt my finger on the right debit card for my travels without being charged too much in exchange each time I make a purchase… Was looking at a travel card (even though it doesn’t actually have the Swedish Krona loaded onto it)… do you have any other suggestions that have works for you in the past without getting stung with high exchange conversation fees!!
Thanks 🙂
Hi EJ, have a look at my post here on travel cards, also read the comments for some updated feedback from people using them http://www.theaussienomad.com/travel-tips/travel-card-for-travel/
Hi Aussie Nomad
Love your different destination blog entries, very insightful and informatative. Just back from Stockholm and I can certainly agree with you- Damn expensive and the smallest damn hostel room I’ve ever been in. Have you ever been to Oslo or Zurich, OMG probably the 2 most expensive cities in Europe (if not the world)
Adrian, I’ve not made it to Oslo or Zurich but have friends who have been and yes ouch for the wallet.
Hey Chris!
Loved your post! I am planning on visiting Stockholm this summer (May, to be exact), but would like to also Copenhagen if possible. What was the train (website, if possible) that you used to travel between the two?
Thanks in advance for your response! Love the blog!
Hi Erika, I booked my ticket at the local train station in Copenhagen the day before I travelled onto Stockholm sorry. If you are after advice on trains in Europe though I’d look up a website called seat61 its got all the info you’ll ever need.