🇸🇪Sweden
Fourteen islands of water and stone, minimalist design, and a deep cultural commitment to fika — where medieval old towns meet some of Europe's best-funded public spaces.
Cities
Sweden's laid-back second city — canals, a working port, unpretentious seafood, and a directness that Stockholmers call rude and everyone else calls refreshing.
Day budget
$90–160
Cheap meal
100–140 SEK ($10–14)
Mid hotel
1,100–1,900 SEK ($113–196)
A scrappy, fast-changing port city 35 minutes from Copenhagen by train — Sweden's most diverse city, with a striking modern waterfront bolted onto a medieval core.
Day budget
$80–145
Cheap meal
90–130 SEK ($9.30–13)
Mid hotel
1,000–1,700 SEK ($103–175)
Fourteen islands stitched together by bridges and water, where medieval alleys, austere modernist design, and Scandinavia's best-funded museums all sit within walking distance of each other.
Day budget
$110–190
Cheap meal
120–150 SEK ($12–15)
Mid hotel
1,400–2,400 SEK ($144–247)
At a glance
How Sweden’s cities compare. Rough 2025–2026 figures.
| City | Cheap meal | Mid-range hotel | Transit ride | Avg. monthly salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇪 Gothenburg | 100–140 SEK ($10–14) | 1,100–1,900 SEK ($113–196) | 36 SEK ($3.70) | ≈ $3,600 |
| 🇸🇪 Malmö | 90–130 SEK ($9.30–13) | 1,000–1,700 SEK ($103–175) | 32 SEK ($3.30) | ≈ $3,300 |
| 🇸🇪 Stockholm | 120–150 SEK ($12–15) | 1,400–2,400 SEK ($144–247) | 39 SEK ($4.00) | ≈ $4,120 |